9 Kisses

New York Times Magazine gathered the best film performers, their longstanding tradition has been to photograph the actors one at a time and (more recently) invite each to do a brief solo turn for the video camera. But though there has always been a place in the movies for solitary screen heroes, the real action is — romance, rivalry, struggle and shtick — takes place when two people are in the frame. Once the camera is rolling, why not pucker up?

Elaine Constantine’s photographs capture a moment before, during or after each kiss, an instant of anticipation, surprise, relief or puzzlement. They bring together actors who enchanted us with their dignity, intensity, toughness and humor, and who have played a staggering array of characters: sociopaths (Steve Carell in “Foxcatcher”) and geniuses (Benedict Cumberbatch in “The Imitation Game”), leaders (David Oyelowo in “Selma”) and soldiers (Kristen Stewart in “Camp X-Ray”), daughters and mothers (Reese Witherspoon in “Wild”; Shailene Woodley in “The Fault in Our Stars”; and Laura Dern in both), writers (Jason Schwartzman in “Listen Up Philip”) and artists (Timothy Spall in “Mr. Turner” ) and even a New York Times reporter (Rosario Dawson in “Top Five”). The pairings were part luck, part mischief and wholly inspired — every one a reminder of what movie love can be. Click “continue reading” to watch all 9 video shorts “9 Kisses” – NY Times Magazine