Mendes Embarrasses Krasinski With Sex Scene

The American Beauty filmmaker wanted to his two leads in the movie to bond immediately - so he ordered them into bed as soon as the cameras started rolling.

And the surprise gave the scene an unexpected comic twist - Krasinski unintentionally left his spectacles on throughout the "passionate" encounter.

The Office star Krasinski says, "If there was any chemistry between Maya and I you'll know it happened on that day. We were starting a friendship and then Sam says, 'OK get under the covers.' We were both really, really nervous and one of the reasons why I wear my glasses throughout the movie and never take them off is because I was so nervous under the covers that when I popped out I still had the glasses on.

"I didn't have the wherewithal to see what the hell was going on. I popped out and Sam was like, 'Cut, that was ridiculous.' I said, 'I know I'm really sorry.' And (he) was like, 'No we're gonna keep it.' From then on I wear my glasses in bed for the character because I was terrified being under the covers."

And Mendes insists throwing the stars straight into the intimate shot helped them relax: "The thing about those specific scenes - if you don't shoot them soon they sort of hover... They were both very terrified about it so we shot it the first day because I thought, 'What better way to break the ice.' Maya wore four pairs of biking shorts under the covers there. The whole time John is saying, 'I can't believe we're actually doing this.'"