How female screen kisses have evolved over the years as TV bosses stick to a tried and tested formula: From Kim Kardashian and Emma Roberts in American Horror Story to  THAT iconic Cruel Intentions scene and Brookside’s television history-making moment

The latest season of American Horror Story is coming back with a bang as the show stars Emma Roberts and Kim Kardashian kiss in Delicate.

Emma portrays actress Anna Victoria Allcott and Kim plays her publicist Siobhan Corbyn. 

The smooch appears to be TV bosses’ way of sticking to a tried and tested formula of female kisses being used to garner attention for a show or film.  

Emma discussed the scene during an appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, saying: ‘You forget about it and then seeing it, it looked so intense. 

But the headline grabbing scene is only the latest in a long ling of famous girl-on-girl kisses that have got people talking.

There have been plenty of memorable screen smooches like Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in Black Swan to Denise Richards and Neve Campell in Wild Things. 

And who could forget real-life kisses that caused a stir like Britney Spears and Madonna at the MTV Video Music Awards that went around the world to Sandra Bullock shocking Scarlett Johansson with a smooch while accepting an award.

MailOnline brings you the most memorable on-screen female kisses. 

Anna Friel and Nicola Stephenson in Brookside (1994) 

Anna Friel and Nicola Stephenson made TV history when their kiss on Brookside became the first lesbian kiss to be broadcast before the 9pm watershed on Channel 4 when it aired in 1994.

The kiss made national headlines when it first aired 30 years ago and is still remembered this day as an important soap moment.  

In the memorable scene, Beth, played by Anna, tells her friend Margaret, played by Nicola, that she has romantic feelings for her.

‘I fancy you the same way I fancied Peter Harrison. I want to kiss you the way I kissed him,’ she said.

Beth worried she has damaged the friendship by revealing her true feelings but Nicola returned her affections and they kissed. 

Nicola, who left the show later that year, previously told the Liverpool Echo she finds it ‘amazing’ people still remember her character.   

She said: ‘To us, the kiss felt quite tame and just a small part of a wider storyline but we knew that it was actually quite a big deal. It felt a real privilege and I felt very lucky to have such a big storyline and one that I felt very passionately about.

‘I still have middle-aged women say to me that the storyline helped them come to terms with their own sexuality or help them come out to members of their family. It amazes me and I’m so proud every time someone mentions it.’ 

Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair in Cruel Intentions (1997)

One of the most memorable lesbian kisses in film history undoubtedly goes to Sarah Michelle Gellar and Selma Blair in the 1999 teen drama Cruel Intentions.

In the flick, Sarah plays a cold-hearted high scool student named Kathryn who is determined to destroy the reputation of the innocent Cecile, played by Selma.

In one scene, Kathryn takes it upon herself to teach Cecile how to kiss while they’re sitting together in Central Park. The pair are then seen engaged in a prolonged, intimate kiss with a saliva trail.

The scene is now regarded as one of the most memorable moments from the film and it won Sarah and Selma the Best Kiss gong at the MTV Movie Awards in 2000.   

Reflecting on the scene’s impact, Selma believes it had lasting impact because it helped young gay people to accept their sexuality.

She said: ‘I think the reason the kiss has resonated with people so long is not just for the initial shock value but because it was a catalyst for so many young people to help them realise certain aspects of their sexuality and help make people comfortable to be who they really are.’ 

Denise Richards and Neve Campbell in Wild Things (1998)

Denise Richards and Neve Campbell shared a very memorable kissing scene in the 1998 erotic thriller Wild Things.

The film follows two high school students who accuse a guidance counselor of rape and the subsequent revelations after a police officer investigates the case. 

In one scene, Denise’s Kelly and Neve’s Suzie have a tense late night argument by a pool with Kelly repeatedly slapping Suzie and shoving her head under the water.

But their fury soon turned to lust as they shared a passionate kiss. 

Denise later told The Guardian she was ‘terrified’ to film the scene as it was ‘the first time’ she had shot ‘anything like that’.

‘I’m sure people must think that behind the scenes it’s very exciting, but it’s not. But I’m glad it comes off that sexy in the movie,’ she said. 

Sarah Jessica Parker and Alanis Morrissette in Sex And The City (2000)

In Sex And The City, Sarah Jessica Parker locked lips with guest star Alanis Morrissette in season three’s Boy, Girl, Boy, Girl…

In the episode, Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah) dates a bisexual man who introduces her to a group of his sexually fluid friends who have all had relationships with each other.

Among them is Dawn, portrayed by Alanis, who plays a game of spin the bottle with Carrie at a party.

When the bottle lands on Carrie, she tells the group to spin again because she’s a girl but Dawn gives her a kiss anyway.

Alanis later admitted she didn’t enjoy the kiss much because Sarah had to act ‘reluctant’ during the scene.    

‘I kissed Sarah Jessica Parker,’ she said. ‘I played a lesbian in Sex And The City and I had to kiss her. I have experimented with same-sex relationships in my life, but it wasn’t about enjoyment with

‘Her character was supposed to be reluctant about getting involved, so it wasn’t a passionate kiss – it was a reticent one, which is the reason I didn’t enjoy it.’

It was the kiss seen around the world. 

At the 2003 MTV Video Music Awards, Britney Spears and Madonna locked lips during the live TV broadcast.

The pair were joined on stage by Christina Aguilera as they sang a rendition of Madonna’s Like A Virgin.

Britney and Christina were dressed as brides while Madonna was the groom.

The Like A Prayer singer kissed both women but it was her smooch with Britney that made the headlines as the camera immediately cut to Britney’s ex boyfriend Justin Timberlake who was sat in the audience. 

In her memoir The Woman In Me, Britney said the women rehearsed it as an air kiss but she got the idea to make it the real thing right before the performance.

‘A lot was made of that kiss,’ she wrote. ‘Oprah asked Madonna about it. The kiss was treated as a huge cultural moment—’Britney kissing Madonna!’—and it got us both a lot of attention.’ 

Showing how times changed from previous years, the kiss was largely received positvely and is considered a memorable moment in pop culture history. 

Megan Fox and Amanda Seyfried in Jennifer’s Body (2009)

In Jennifer’s Body, Megan Fox plays a cheerleader who is possessed by a demon and must eat human flesh in order to survive while Amanda plays her best friend Needy who is desperate to stop her murderous rampage.

In one scene towards the end of the film, Jennifer – who is possessed – breaks into Needy’s house and surprises her in her bedroom.

The pair share a steamy kiss before Needy breaks away and Jennifer tells her the story of how she became possessed. 

Megan later admitted Amanda was ‘extremely uncomfortable’ during the scene and had ‘giggling fits’ between takes out of nervousness.

Amanda herself later told InStyle: ‘It was my first time doing a real kissing scene with a woman. It is just weird. It is a woman. With a woman’s smell – soft and floraly – and maybe the pheromones are different.

‘Something about it felt uncomfortable for me.’

Natalie Portman and Mila Kunis in Black Swan (2010)

Natalie Portman won the Oscar for Best Actress for her role as workaholic ballet dancer Nina in Black Swan. 

The film, which follows Nina’s psychological break with reality, features a very intimate kiss between Nina and fellow dancer Lily, played by Mila Kunis.

The scene, which is later revealed to have been Nina’s dream, sees the pair kiss and roll around on a bed after returning from a night of drinking. 

Mila later revealed a ‘little known fact’ in an interview – that Natalie is the one person she and husband Ashton Kutcher have both kissed.

Ashton also starred with Natalie before, in the 2011 sexy romantic comedy No Strings Attached. 

‘There’s one person in the world that both Ashton [Kutcher] and I have kissed, and that’s Natalie Portman,’ she said, adding Natalie was a ‘lovely kisser, very polite’.

Black Swan received critical acclaim upon its release and Natalie’s performance was previously named one of the best acting performances of the 21st century.  

Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson at the MTV Movie Awards (2010)

Sandra Bullock and Scarlett Johansson made headlines around the world when they kissed on stage at the MTV Movie Awards in 2010.

Sandra was on stage to receive the Generation Award in recognition of her achievements in the film industry with Scarlett, Betty White and Bradley Cooper joining her. 

The actress had recently starred with Scarlett’s then husband Ryan Reynolds in the hit comedy The Proposal where they were nominated for Best Kiss at the ceremony.

In order for Scarlett to not feel left out, Sandra kissed her while they were on stage and judging by Scarlett’s surprised reaction, the moment was not planned. 

The smooch proved lesbian kisses still had the power to shock audiences, particularly given the unexpected nature of it.  

Taylor Schilling and Laura Prepon in Orange Is The New Black (2015)

While there are several lesbian relationships in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black, one of the most memorable was that between Taylor Schilling’s Piper and Laura Prepon’s Alex. 

The two exes are forced together in Litchfield Penitentiary when they are thrown behind bars for a crime they both committed. At each other’s throats at first, the pair’s romance is rekindled. 

Laura previously spoke to AfterEllen about the characters’ relationship: ‘I mean, honestly, the main thing I learned was whether it’s a man or a woman, if there’s chemistry, there’s chemistry. 

‘Taylor and I have amazing chemistry and it’s really awful when you work with an actor when you don’t have chemistry. We’ve all been through that. 

‘As an actor, it’s ‘Oh god, the chemistry’s not there’ and you have to do everything to put it there but sometimes it’s naturally there and it just works and it’s awesome. And that’s how me and Taylor were.’ 

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan in Ammonite (2020)

Kate Winslet and Saoirse Ronan played two women who fall in love in the lesbian romantic drama Ammonite.

Kate starred as s paleontologist Mary Anning who is given an opportunity by a wealthy man to care for his wife Charlotte, played by Saoirse.

The two women develop an intense bond and eventually become lovers.

Kate previously told how she took charge during the film’s sex scenes, saying: ‘I’ve definitely had more experience and played LGBTQ characters in the past. It just made sense. Women know what women want, let’s not beat about the bush.

‘Saoirse and I knew we could unite in our feelings about these characters and where they’re at, and to tell that story physically. It was a very joyful experience.’

Unlike some of the other kisses on this list which appeared to be designed to shock or titillate audiences, Ammonite was a romantic love story that charted the relationship of the main female characters.