Saltburn production designer Suzie Davies reveals what Barry Keoghan actually slurped in the infamous bathtub scene. Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, the movie follows Oxford University student Oliver Quick, who finds himself accompanying classmate Felix Catton to his aristocratic family’s estate over the summer. Along with Keoghan, Saltburn stars Jacob Elordi, Archie Madekwe, Alison Oliver, Richard E. Grant, and Rosamund Pike. Filled with shocking moments, one of Saltburn‘s most heavily discussed sequences involves Oliver drinking Felix’s used bathwater after witnessing him masturbate in it.
During a recent interview with Business Insider, Davies explains what Keoghan was actually consuming in that Saltburn scene. She revealed that “yogurt and a bit of milk and some water” were used to create what audiences eventually saw, and noted how committed Keoghan was when filming that part. Read more of Davies’ comments regarding the Saltburn bathtub sequence below:
“He did it four times and really went for it. Every one he did was a different kind of slurp. Often, when you film things like that, there are 20 people in the room. It’s quite tense. But the cast can bring something that’s so extraordinary that you can hear a pin drop. So when Barry was doing his stuff, it was amazing. He had no inhibitions.“
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Saltburn’s Bathtub Scene Continues To Draw Attention
As Saltburn continues to grow in popularity, that moment in which Oliver decided to slurp from the drain has quickly become one of its most well-known, and controversial. Given its reputation, many audiences have enjoyed sharing their initial reactions to the scene, thus making it a major topic of conversation. Keoghan previously commented on the bath scene from Saltburn, revealing more about his character’s mindset and explaining that Oliver was deep in his fascination with Felix.
More recently, candles claiming to smell like Felix’s bathwater were produced, benefiting from the ongoing discourse surrounding Saltburn and Elordi’s rising star. Those involved with the movie, including Keoghan and Margot Robbie, who served as producer, reacted to the scent, but Elordi’s response in particular has fans talking about that entire sequence again. Appearing on The Tonight Show, Felix’s actor was given a bathwater candle and hilariously pretended to drink it.
Most of the film’s memorable scenes could likely be attributed to Keoghan’s dedication, so it’s interesting to hear about the production process, especially concerning the bathtub sequence. Davies’ comments about what Keoghan actually slurped in Saltburn may be surprising to some, but knowing about the contents of it, and what went into filming that whole moment, make the performance more impressive.
Saltburn
Written and directed by Emerald Fennell, Saltburn is a 2023 comedy-thriller film. When Oxford student Oliver Quick is invited to his friend Felix’s family’s wealthy estate, Saltburn, for a summer vacation, he is drawn into the world of eccentric characters and increasingly chaotic events as his obsession with Felix comes to a head.
- Release Date
- November 17, 2023
- Director
- Emerald Fennell
- Cast
- Barry Keoghan , Jacob Elordi , Rosamund Pike , Richard E. Grant , Alison Oliver , Archie Madekwe , Carey Mulligan
- Runtime
- 131 Minutes
- Writers
- Emerald Fennell
- Studio(s)
- Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer , MRC , LuckyChap Entertainment , Lie Still
- Distributor(s)
- Amazon MGM Studios
