Michael Douglas and Matt Damon strip down

They have described filming sex scenes for their upcoming Liberace biopic, Behind The Candelabra, as 'awkward'.
But Michael Douglas and Matt Damon, who play two gay lovers in the film, look anything but in a new steamy film still for the movie.

The two actors completely lose their clothes to strip down for a racy bath time scene.

 

Bath time: Michael Douglas and Matt Damon strip down to film a steamy bath time scene in their upcoming Liberace biopic, Behind The Candelabra

In the new image, obtained by Entertainment Weekly, the pair are seen naked from the waist up as they sit in a bathtub inside a candlelit bathroom
Clinking expensive crystal champagne glasses, they gaze into each other's eyes.
In the latest Liberace biopic, Michael plays Wladziu Valentino Liberace, best known simply as Liberace, an American pianist and vocalist, and Damon plays his gay lover, Scott Thorson.
In Entertainment Weekly's accompanying short 30 second snippet of the movie, Douglas portrays both Liberace's musical abilities as well as his flamboyant and extravagant lifestyle, including his passionate affair with his live-in lover.
The emergence of the trailer comes after the pair recently appeared on the front cover of the magazine in full character.
In their first official shot, they are unrecognisable sculpted in heavy make-up.

 

Lovers: In the latest Liberace biopic, Michael plays Wladziu Valentino Liberace, best known simply as Liberace, an American pianist and vocalist, and Damon plays his gay lover, Scott Thorson

In an accompanying interview, both actors reveal filming the numerous sex scenes was always 'awkward.'
'The scene where I’m behind him and going at him, we did that in one take,” recalls Damon, laughing. 'We do it. Cut. There’s a long pause. And then you just hear Steven [director Steven Soderbergh] go, “Well… I have no notes.”'
Douglas and co-star Damon previously said biopic Behind the Candelabra was almost scrapped after it was branded too explicit.
Douglas revealed that he found his inspiration for the role by channelling memories he had of meeting Liberace as a child though his father, actor Kirk Douglas, and that he also spent a great deal of time studying footage of the musician.

 

Flamboyant: Michael wears some pretty flamboyant outfits in the film to portray Liberace

 

Made up: Likewise, Damon has his face made-up in full make-up

There's a tremendous amount of clips and films that certainly give you a sense and idea' of the spirit of Liberace, he said.

Polyester central: Matt is seen wearing several Seventies-inspired outfits in the movie

And for as much as Liberace's over-the-top persona is often parodied today, director Steven Soderbergh made sure to keep the tone of the film true to the life of the legendary entertainer.
'We take the relationship very seriously. I was very anxious that we not make it a caricature,' he said of the project, which he also described as 'La Cage Aux Folles on steroids.'
Soderbergh explained that he has been selling the idea of a Liberace biography for years, having first approached Douglas about the role 12 years ago when they worked together on the movie Traffic.
Unfortunately, before the project could ever take off, Soderbergh said it was turned down by many studios for being 'too gay.'
'There's no question that it's unfortunate to see the movie through a contemporary lens and know that they weren't able to be as open back then as people are today,' Soderbergh said.
Damon, who plays Liberace's long time lover Thorson, said one of his favourite parts of working on the project was the lavish attention to detail.
'I probably spent more time in wardrobe fittings than I did in my previous 15 projects,' he said.
But the Promised Land actor said the film's love story is what he hopes will resonate with audiences more than the singer's ritzy lifestyle.
'It was so complex their relationship,' he said. 'They had profound love for each other.'
He continued: 'It was fun, but we weren't giggling about it. We took it very seriously.'
Douglas also offered praise for his co-star Damon, who played the role based on Thorson's confessions in the book, Behind the Candelabra: My Life with Liberace.
'I don't think I would have had the courage at that point in my career to take that on,' he said.
Weintraub also revealed that Thorson was not cooperative with the production, and that he has not been able to talk to him for several months.
Weintraub said that Thorson has yet to screen the biopic, and that while the crew tried to reach him for fact checking purposes, he was unavailable.
The executive producer also talked about using his own personal relationship with Liberace to help  paint the picture.
'I knew him very well,' Weintraub said. 'He was a wonderful guy, a great host, I went to his home many times for dinner.'
'I was always impressed with his graciousness and the way he treated us,' he continued.
And that while people tend to mock Liberace's eccentric performing style, he says he was just a victim of the times.

 

Far from Liberace: Matt Damon is currently filming The Monuments Men in Berlin in which he plays a soldier

'He was [fabulous] before Lady Gaga and Madonna and Elton John,' he said. 'I think his piano playing became secondary to [pleasing] his audience, he presented a spectacle every night.'
Ultimately, the film is very respectful to the late performer, Weintraub said.
'Everybody appreciated him and his career, and I think Stephen captured that on film.'