Olivia Munn Opens Up About Breast Cancer Surgeries Impacting Her Career
Actress Olivia Munn is sharing her experience regarding how her breast cancer surgeries have influenced her professional life.
In a recent interview, the 44-year-old actress recounted filming intimate scenes alongside Jon Hamm for the new Apple+ series, “Your Friends and Neighbors,” shortly after undergoing five surgeries. The final procedure took place just days before the start of filming.
Munn expressed her apprehension about performing sex scenes due to visible scars from her surgeries. “I was really nervous about doing any sex scenes because I have a lot of scars,” she revealed to the Los Angeles Times. “Some scars are visible with clothing and others would only be apparent if I were fully nude.”
In the drama, Munn portrays Samantha Levitt, a mother of two entangled in an affair with Hamm’s character, Andrew Cooper. “She desires so much more from him than he’s willing to provide; their only connection is through sex,” Munn explained. “I aimed for the sex scenes to be visceral, intense, and authentic.”
Despite working with an intimacy coordinator and receiving support from her colleagues, Munn initially struggled to feel comfortable. “I did feel insecure, but with each scene, my confidence grew,” she said. “I’m so grateful for my body because it got me through this.”
Reflecting on her journey, Munn shared in an interview with SELF that she now views her scars as symbols of resilience. “I was far more insecure during past nude scenes before the scars. Now, I see them as battle wounds that signify my fight,” she stated.
Since publicly announcing her breast cancer diagnosis in March 2024, Munn has remained open about her experience. In her initial Instagram post about the diagnosis, she expressed hope that her story would provide comfort and inspiration to others facing similar challenges.
Munn, who shares a three-year-old son, Malcolm, and a seven-month-old daughter, Méi, with husband John Mulaney, conveyed how motherhood has transformed her perspective on life and mortality. “Once you have a child, you start to think about your mortality differently; it’s my motherhood, and I don’t want to miss a moment,” she reflected.
“Your Friends and Neighbors” is now available for streaming on Apple TV+.
