Meg Ryan was coached in how to fake an orgasm in famous When Harry Met Sally scene – by a man

By Iona Kirby

Published: 12:53 EST, 11 July 2014 | Updated: 14:54 EST, 11 July 2014

It is her most famous scene to date.

And while Meg Ryan’s fake orgasm in 1989’s Harry Met Sally has become iconic, the actress was in fact very nervous while filming it.

So much so that she had to be coached through it by a man, in the form of the movie’s director Rob Reiner.

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Iconic moment: Meg Ryan famously faked an orgasm in 1989's When Harry Met Sally, opposite Billy Crystal

Iconic moment: Meg Ryan famously faked an orgasm in 1989's When Harry Met Sally, opposite Billy Crystal

Reiner Told HuffPost Live in an interview on Thursday: ‘Meg was nervous. Obviously you're in front of extras and all the crew members and everything. So the first few times we did it, she did it kind of weak. It was a little tepid.

‘I said, “Look, let me show you what I want,” after a few takes that weren't so good.’

Reiner, now 67, recalled how he then proceeded to teach the romcom queen, who is 52, how best to fake it.

‘I sat down opposite Billy [Crystal] … And I’m sitting there and I’m pounding the table and I’m going, “Yes, yes, yes.”

Nervous: Director Rob Reiner had to coach the actress in how to deliver the fake orgasm, as hers was 'tepid'

Nervous: Director Rob Reiner had to coach the actress in how to deliver the fake orgasm, as hers was 'tepid'

‘I’m doing the whole thing and then I realise I’m having an orgasm in front of my mother. And I [think] “Oh god, what have I done here.” But Meg then did it way better than I did.’

Reiner added that there really is a Katz’s Deli, where the famous moment between the two characters took place, and a sign there says: ‘This is where Harry Met Sally.’

‘From what I understand people do go there and they act the scene out,’ he said. ‘And people just go along with it.’

Teamwork: Meg, pictured last month, and Rob, seen here on Monday, eventually created the perfect scene together
Teamwork: Meg, pictured last month, and Rob, seen here on Monday, eventually created the perfect scene together

Teamwork: Meg, pictured last month, and Rob, seen here on Monday, eventually created the perfect scene together

Billy Crystal opened up about how that scene came to be in September, and recalled how Reiner delivered ‘an orgasm that King Kong would be jealous of’, adding that it looked like he was ‘on a date with Sebastian Cabot’.

Crystal revealed how the scene came to be in the first place, as the two leading actors did a spot of improvising.

‘It started in rehearsal, where Nora Ephron [the screenwriter], who was so great, said to Rob [Reiner], “You know, women fake orgasms.”

‘He was, like, shocked — “Well, they haven't faked one with me!”’

Together again!: Billy, Meg and Rob are pictured at an event together in April, almost 25 years after the release of the movie

Together again!: Billy, Meg and Rob are pictured at an event together in April, almost 25 years after the release of the movie

The 65-year-old actor explained: ‘In the rehearsal, Meg said, “I should fake one. I should fake it in a public place,” And I said, “Yeah, like a restaurant with a lot of people.”

‘And she said, “I'll give a huge one.” And I said, “And then there should be an older woman who says, ‘Waiter, I'll have what she's having.’”’

The scene ended up playing out exactly as they planned, with Reiner’s mother Estelle taking on the role of the extra.

Back in the day: Billy and Meg are pictured with Rob on set of the famous romantic comedy

Back in the day: Billy and Meg are pictured with Rob on set of the famous romantic comedy

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One of the stupidest and most contrived scenes in movie history. Bevenion, Calgary >>>>>>> No kidding!! From what I've seen, women having a real orgasm sometimes seem as if they want to curl into a ball and shut down, being able to just about breath properly. Forget all this wailing like a banshee nonsense. That is a sure sign it's 100% fake.

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Whats the big deal? Most women are taught to fake orgasms by men!

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In retrospect I suppose this should not be at all surprising. After all, isn't it this exact type of theatrical performance that men come to expect in bed? I think they watch too much porn.

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Rob Reiner's best film was 'The Princess Bride' and his personal favourite.

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I never knew why such a big deal was made of this scene, I thought it was a bit stupid and I definitely could have done better.....

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I've eaten at Katz's Deli many many times over the years and no one has ever done the scene or faked an orgasm there, I even asked the waitress if it's ever done and she said no, so Mr. Reiner doesn't know what he's talking about. Plus Katz's has really gone downhill, the interior is really ran down and shabby and the sandwiches are half the size now. The pastrami used to be piled high, now it's not even half that. Come to NYC skip it, not worth the trip to the deli unless you're already in the neighborhood.

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Men, most women DO have to fake orgasms because most men don't know what the heck they're doing sexually to give them a real one, sad but true! And if we try to tell men what we need them to do to to give us one, they get their fragile egos hurt so it's a no win situation. We fake them to get it over with, to get our man to stop whatever the heck he's trying to do down there! Sex is NOT what it's all cracked up to be, most women just want to get it over with, here we go again, same old, same old, ugh. Romance, hugs, hand holding and make out sessions are much more enjoyable than the same old sexual routine constantly, especailly when your man makes you feel like you're only there for his "benefit"!

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How is this story relevant to anything so long after the event?

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we sat down in Katz's Deli in NYC about 23 years ago - and only then happened to notice a small sign on a stick on the table 'You are seated at the table where the famous scene from 'When Harry met Sally' was performed' - oh, yes ! - that added some extra pickle to our pastrami sandwich !

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He has put his head on upside down.

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