Intense scene ... Brad Pitt, left, stars as Roland, and Angelina Jolie Pitt is Vanessa in By The Sea. Picture: Merrick Morton/Universal Pictures via AP

Jolie, 40, directed a steamy sex scene starring her and her real-life husband in the intense drama, which she also wrote.

“We’re artists and want to be free, but Brad — it’s his wife. He was on towel duty. He’d hold the towel over me,” Jolie told Entertainment Weekly, according to Vanity Fair.

Camera shy ... Angelina Jolie has spoken about directing a sex scene between her and her real-life hubby, Brad Pitt. Picture: Getty ImagesSource:AFP

“It’s the strangest thing in the world to be lying naked in a bathtub with an iPad that’s showing you the shot outside, while your husband is at the door and you’re directing him to come in and make love to you,” Jolie told Vanity Fair.

“In front of a bunch of other men with cameras.”

Intense scene ... Brad Pitt, left, stars as Roland, and Angelina Jolie Pitt is Vanessa in By The Sea. Picture: Merrick Morton/Universal Pictures via APSource:AP

Jolie said Pitt, 51, shielded her body from view.

“I couldn’t get out of the bathtub to get to the monitor because the director is naked,” Jolie said.

“Love scenes are strange anyway.

“But when you’re doing a love scene with a person that you really have sex with?

“The only way to get through it was for us to all talk about the absurdity of it and make sure no one was feeling awkward.

“I’ve done sex scenes. But this is obviously different. I almost wish every woman could have this experience.”

The movie — Jolie’s third as director — has been panned by critics who have called it a “vanity project” and compared it to a depressing fashion magazine shoot.

By The Sea is out in Australia on November 26.