Cobie Smulders, Josh Radnor Reveal Whispered Dirty Talk Before HIMYM Sex Scenes

Cobie Smulders revealed on the "How We Made Your Mother" podcast that before filming intimate scenes on "How I Met Your Mother," she would whisper extremely inappropriate things to her co-star Josh Radnor to help him get in the moment. This practice was part of an acting technique called "the moment before," where actors create a backstory for their characters' state just before a scene starts. Smulders described herself as a "giving actor," aiming to ensure Radnor felt comfortable and connected during their scenes, many of which were post-coital. Radnor admitted that these whispers often left him blushing and struggling to remember his lines. The co-creator Craig Thomas confirmed Radnor’s reactions, calling them "beet red." Despite the humorous and provocative nature of these warm-ups, Smulders declined to disclose the specific phrases she used.