Veteran Ghanaian actress Irene Opare has shed light on one of the film industry’s long-standing misconceptions, revealing that most kissing scenes viewers see in movies are not actually real.
Speaking on Showbiz 360 on March 6, monitored by entertainment journalist Joseph Owusu Worae, the celebrated actress explained that what audiences often interpret as real kisses are usually the result of camera tricks and clever filming techniques used by directors.
According to Opare, who has spent over 45 years in the acting industry, many of the intimate scenes portrayed on screen are carefully choreographed to create the illusion of romance without actors actually kissing.
“People think we kiss for real in movies, but we don’t,” she said. “Let me explain it today because many people believe those scenes are real.”
The veteran actress stressed that although some productions may require genuine kisses, that has not been the case for most of the scenes she has performed throughout her career.
“Maybe some people kiss for real, but I have done a lot of kissing scenes in my 45 years of acting and it’s not real,” she revealed.
Opare explained that filmmakers often rely on camera angles, head movements and editing techniques to create convincing romantic scenes for viewers.
“For me, about 99 percent of my kissing scenes are not real because there is always a camera trick. You put the lips close together, the heads turn, and it looks like they are kissing. That’s all,” she added.
Her revelation offers a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes techniques used in filmmaking, where directors and cinematographers often rely on creative methods to maintain realism while ensuring the comfort of actors.
The actress, who is widely respected for her decades-long contribution to Ghana’s film and television industry, said the explanation was necessary to correct misconceptions among audiences who assume such scenes are always genuine.
Some of Irene Opare’s notable screen credits include Love or Something Like That (2014), as well as the popular television drama Life and Living It, where she played the memorable character Fiona.
She also appeared in Pieces of Me, alongside veteran actors David Dontoh and Fred Amugi, and The Mask, one of her earlier well-known movie roles.
Other productions she has featured in include Destiny, which helped boost her recognition in the industry, as well as Black Sunday and Police Officer.
