Walking Dead‘s Emily Kinney is known for playing a wholesome country girl but she joins the sexual revolution in Masters of Sex season 3. Kinney will play Nora, who works as a sex surrogate in pioneering research into human sexuality conducted by Dr. William Masters (Michael Sheen) and Virginia Johnson (Lizzy Caplan).
Sex surrogates help those suffering from sexual dysfunction by promoting intimacy through sexual contact though not necessarily sexual intercourse. Masters himself suffered from impotence but don’t expect Nora to give him sexual healing. [SPOILER] Virgina reveals she’s pregnant with his baby in the season premiere. fortunately for him, Libby Masters (Caitlin Fitzgerald), is already aware of his adulterous relationship and even welcomes Virgina and her children into their home to raise together. [/SPOILER]
Even under the supervision of a licensed therapist, sex surrogates aren’t explicitly legal in most jurisdictions.
“The legal status of surrogate partners is undefined in most of the United States and most countries around the world. This means that there are generally no laws regulating the profession,” according to the International Professional Surrogates Association (IPSA).
The legality was even more dubious in the 60s. In the series, Masters often runs afoul of the law. When he had difficulty finding volunteers for the sex study, he paid prostitutes to be his test subjects. The notion of a sex surrogate will likely receive similar resistance from his contemporaries.
Masters of Sex season 3 premieres July 12, Sunday 10PM on Showtime.
Watch the first episode now (Kinney does not appear until later in the season):
