Elizabeth Hurley, known for her frequent bikini pictures on Instagram, is most importantly an actress as well as an animal activist. But, maybe, her most significant role is the one of mother to her only son Damian.
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The two have always had a close relationship. In 2018 she explained: ‘being an only child of a single mother has meant that we have spent a great deal of time together.’
This can be seen in their respective Instagram posts where they share their holiday pictures as well as celebrate each other's achievements.
As he grew up, the time they spent together extended outside the home as they co-starred on the TV show The Royals.
And, in December 2022, Damian announced on Instagram that he had finished filming his firstever film, Strictly Confidential starring his mother.
In June 2023, details of the movie came out including one about Damian directing his mother in an intimate lesbian scene. Now, she has spoken out about the experience, and shared what it meant to her.
Internet reacts: Elizabeth Hurley directed in sex scene by her son
When news broke that Elizabeth Hurley - fashion icon and stunning model -had been directed in an intimate scene by her son, the internet went wild. Numerous articles have been written about it in publications such as the Daily Mail, The Mirror and Page Six.
Because the titles of these articles solely focus on the fact that Damian directed his mother in an intimate scene, only one kind of reaction has been spotted: disgust.
On the other hand, when Damian shared that he had finished filming his first film the comments were much more positive and focused on praising him for his achievement.
One user says:
You were born to shine D!! ✨👏👏👏 what an achievement, this is a huge moment in time. You put into action what you were born to do! Amazing 🌟 Wish I could hug you ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
While another adds:
Congratulations!!! You can be so proud of yourself! 👏👏👏❤️
Elizabeth Hurley's comments on the scene
After much public input on either side of the fence, we have finally got to hear from Elizabeth Hurley and her son themselves. The pair spoke to Access Hollywood about their experience on set, and were very balanced and professional about it. Liz explained that these types of scenes were new to her:
The things in this script that he needed me to do weren't necessarily things I'd always done in movies many times before.
As a result, she found it helped to have someone she trusted at the helm. The actress said she feels 'relaxed' when Damian snaps pictures of her in her swimwear because she knows he is 'looking out' for her. The same thing goes for their movie work: having Damian behind the camera made her feel 'safe and looked after'.
She said the experience even made her feel 'kind of liberated', given that it was completely new. Hurley's character is certainly one to remember. She plays Lily, a scantily-clad woman who may or may not be connected to a mysterious death - and still manages to find the time for a steamy affair with another woman.
Elizabeth and Damian seemed to be equally onboard to work together again, explaining that Strictly Confidential 'could be the first of many' shared projects. As for the potential awkwardness that everyone is worried about, Damian said he didn't find it a problem as there simply 'was no time' for any discomfort.
Elizabeth and Damian Hurley's working relationship
While it is understandable that people reacted that way to the news of a son directing his mother in an intimate scene, it is important to provide some context.
First, it is key to know that the pair has already worked together. Indeed, they were co stars in The Royalsfor several years.
They have also always supported each other. Constantly cheering each other on on social media.
In an interview Elizabeth shared:
He’s been such a supporter of the show (The Royals) and indeed of me for his whole life. and to have him actually be in costume, mic-ed up, doing his lines, I was proud.
As the mother that she is Elizabeth also gave her son some brutally honest professional advice as he started his acting career:
The only advice I gave him was to learn his lines and not be annoying.
Moreover, as the Daily Mail says, Elizabeth had already been directed by her son when he was shooting a short film when he was just 8.
Already, the fact that they are working together again makes more sense.
When Damian Hurley shared his joy on Instagram over finishing his first film he praised his mother and thanked her for fulfilling a promise she had made him when he was a child.
during the making of my first ever short film back in 2010 (when I was 8 🤓) (she) promised me she’d be in my first feature; true to her word, the minute this film was greenlit, Mama dropped everything and raced out to the beautiful Caribbean to help.
He finished by saying:
Working together was a dream
Strictly Confidential's release is set for April so people will have to keep waiting to have a full opinion on that scene that already made so much noise.
A psychotherapist weighs in
On 19 March 2024, psychotherapist Dr Jenn Marr spoke about the situation to TMZ. Dr Marr is known in the US for her work on Couples Therapy. The show had Mann live with celebrity couples for a few days in order to help them resolve marital issues.
Express reported the words of Dr Mann and explained that the doctor 'advises against parents simulating sex in front of their kids' because it pushes the boundaries on what a mother and son relationship should be like.
In the TMZ article, it is claimed that Dr Mann called the situation between Elizabeth Hurley and her son 'downright bizarre' especially concerning Elizabeth's statement about how 'liberating' it is to work with family.
Damian Hurley's father denied paternity
The story behind Damian's father is tragic. To start at the beginning, let's take a look back at Elizabeth's dating life. Hurley was famously with fellow actor Hugh Grant for 13 years. However, the couple eventually split and she went on to date businessman Steve Bing. She dated him for 18 months, and became pregnant with Damian - reportedly at Elton John's villa in Nice in August 2021.
Despite having previously paid off Liz's six figure legal bill after she was sued for strike-breaking by the Screen Actors Guild, he was less than generous when it came to her announcement. He denied the child was his, and even went so far as to make it public: he released a statement saying that their relationship had never been exclusive and it was 'her choice to be a single mother'.
Bing reportedly asked Hurley to terminate the pregnancy, but she refused - and she allegedly refused his suggestion that they go to counselling together to discuss. Eventually, a court-ordered DNA test proved he was the father and Bing said he would pay £100,000 a year into a trust for his son. Damian was born in April 2002.
Bing was renowned for being a ladies' man, and as well as giving a lot of money to charity, he patronised strip clubs and would shower the dancers in $100 bills. He even spent years living in hotels and, as one friend pointed out:
There’s nothing more spectacularly non-committal than living in a hotel.
He was romantically involved with Playboy Playmates, supermodel Naomi Campbell, and iconic Kill Bill actress Uma Thurman.
And would you believe, this was not the only paternity drama Bing faced in his lifetime. In 2002, he sued billionaire Kirk Kerkorian for invasion of privacy. Why? Because the latter had hired private detectives to figure out whether or not Bing was the father of Kerkorian's wife's child. They went through his bins, found a piece of dental floss, and a DNA test was carried out. It turned out that yes, Bing was also unwillingly the father of another kid.
Bing's tragic death
Bing, who was clearly a mixed bag when it came to morals, also suffered terribly with depression. The businessman took his own life, plunging from the 27th floor of his Los Angeles apartment block in 2020. It was reported that he had been struggled to cope with the lack of human contact in his life and indeed, Hurley later revealed that after years of distance he had finally come back into her life. Despite their differences, both Elizabeth and Damian were obviously deeply impacted by the news.
Elizabeth shared some snaps of happier times with Bing, and wrote:
Our time together was very happy and although we went through some tough times, it’s the good, wonderful memories of a sweet, kind man that matter.
She revealed that the pair had 'become close again' in the year before his passing, and spoke on Damian's 18th birthday. That being said, court papers from 2018 claimed the young actor had never actually met Bing. Damian himself spoke out about the news:
Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone that has reached out following the devastating news. This is a very strange and confusing time and I’m immensely grateful to be surrounded by my phenomenal family and friends.
Hugh Grant is Damian's godfather
Elizabeth met Grant in 1987, and the pair became one of the most iconic couples of the 90's. They remained close after their split in 2000, and when Damian came along 2 years later, Liz asked her ex boyfriend if you would be the godfather.
In 2021, Elizabeth spoke about her relationship with Grant:
We went through so much together, but I've been thinking, one of the most important things to keep good relations with your exes is to have a lot of respect for their current life. We haven't been romantically involved for 20 years even though we have such a strong friendship. But we're always very aware that there are other people in our lives.
She explained: 'There's partners, there's children ... You have to move with the times and be very respectful of the present, which we are.'
It is impressive that Hurley and Grant have remained on such good terms given that Grant was at the centre of a major scandal during their relationship. The actor was caught participating in 'lewd conduct' in a public space with a sex worker while in LA. He reportedly paid call girl Divine Brown $60 to perform a sexual act in his car - all while he was in a longterm relationship with Hurley. His statement at the time showed he regretted it instantly:
Last night I did something completely insane. I have hurt people I love and embarrassed people I work with. For both things I am more sorry than I can ever possibly say.
Hurley and Grant stayed together after this mishap for another five years.
Another father figure died
Between 2007 and 2010, Hurley was married to another businessman Arun Nayar. Damian lived with them in Gloucestershire. However, after the couple split Elizabeth started seeing Australian cricket player Shane Warne. In 2011, she and Damian moved to Australia and split their time between there and the UK. Damian was 9 at the time, and grew very close to his stepfather.
Hurley and Warne split in 2013 but remained on very good terms until March 2022, when Warne died suddenly. He suffered a heart attack at the young age of 52. Elizabeth said at the time:
I feel like the sun has gone behind a cloud forever. RIP my beloved Lionheart
Damian took to Instagram to post the following:
I'm still trying to wrap my head around this. SW was a father figure to me for most of my formative years and was truly one the best men I've ever known. My heart is broken.
Both Damian and his mother have also remained close to Arun Nayar, and the three even spent New Year's Eve together this year. Damian shared a snap of Liz alongside Nayar on Instagram with the caption 'Mama and daddy'. The pair were dressed up for the event with Liz in a tight-fitting sequin dress and Nayar - who is a multi-millionaire textile heir - in a tailored suit.
Although Nayar is not Damian's biological family, he has long been considered his father by both Elizabeth and Damian. In an interview with YOU magazine in 2018, the actress said:
Arun is Damian’s daddy and a very good one too, they see each other a lot.
Damian's education
Although Damian has carved out quite the successful career for himself - as a model, actor and now director - this was never driven by his mother. Liz told People in 2017 that she was focused on the importance of education for her son:
I always say, you don't want to be a bore at dinner. You have to know geography, you need to know history. And then of course, if he wants to be — and if he were talented enough and lucky enough to be a movie star, how nice that would be.
She went on: 'But to me that's the icing on the cake after you [become] a fully-rounded person.'
Read more:
⋙ Elizabeth Hurley drives fans crazy with revealing new video
⋙ Hugh Grant's blunt assessment of Wonka: 'I couldn’t have hated the whole thing more'
⋙ Romeo Beckham spotted holding hands with Mia Regan weeks after announcing split
Sources:
Hola!: ELIZABETH HURLEY'S HOLLYWOOD ADVICE TO ACTOR SON DAMIAN IS PRETTY SIMPLE: 'DON'T BE ANNOYING'
NZ Herald: Elizabeth Hurley stars in new erotic thriller Strictly Confidential directed by 21 year old son Damian Hurley
People: Elizabeth Hurley Gives Advice to Her 15-Year-Old Son as He Begins His Acting Career
The Daily Mail: Damian Hurley makes his directorial debut by filming his own mother in risque scenes with another woman - after being unveiled as the photographer behind her bikini snaps
Express: Liz Hurley felt ‘liberated’ during sex scenes thanks to beloved son ‘being behind camera’
Express: Elizabeth Hurley spends New Year’s Eve with ex-husband Arun Nayar and son Damian
People: All About Elizabeth Hurley's Son Damian Hurley
TMZ: 'COUPLES THERAPY' DR. JENN HURLEY CROSSING BOUNDARIES W/ SON Don't Strip In Front Of Him!
Express: Couples Therapy star accuses Liz Hurley of crossing boundaries with son during sex scene
