And he got to punch out his costar onstage until the guy was out of commission,

Well, Naomi's the bigger movie star, but Liev's the bigger stage star. I like them as a couple. They don't chase after the media.

Now I understand it when people say about movie stars, "They're a couple in real life, but strangely enough they had no sexual chemistry onscreen."

That's because they're uncomfortable doing it in front of people.

I'v eloved Liev ever since "The Daytrippers" - where he tried his damndest to impress an ever-distracted Parker Posey.

For the final word on what it's like to film love scenes in the movies, read Mary Astor's "A Life on Film" account of kissing Clark Gable in "Red Dust," where the combination of studio lights and faux rain literally raised steam off their bodies.

Meanwhile, Gable,Astor, director Victor Fleming and the technicians were concerned with the logistics of how to get the shot they wanted. Gable couldn't carry Astor for the hour or more it would take to set up the shot, so a stool was brought in for her to perch on. Astor fought off the makeup man, who wanted perfect make-up in the rain (Astor fought for realism all her life). On each take, Gable told Astor, "Here we go again, baby!" Innumerable obstacles arose as they tried to get the shot before lunch, because if they didn't, Astor would have to have her hair, make-up and costume changed.

Astor takes six pages to describe this, all of it fascinating, funny and informative: the craft behind the dream factory facade. There is one page of really hot photos, too.

Was Red Dust the movie they remade as Mogambo with Ava Gardner?

One of my favourite celebrity couples, they always seem happy to be together. Liev's candor is welcome and makes perfect sense.