Nudity In Film

The hope of this group is to create an extensive film library that showcases nudity in a positive and non-sexual way.

Respect for an actor

Return to Discussions

I don't know about the rest of you, but i have a level of respect for an actor or actress who decides to bare all for a movie. I am not talking porn films but I am referring to movies where the setting requires nudity for it to make sense. A shower scene, a prison strip search scene, a medical setting. It might only be seconds on the screen that we see the actor in the buff, but that often means many takes and extended nude time
with a film crew around. I just rewatched 28 Days Later where the actor Irish actor Cillian Murphy is introduced to us lying hooked up to tubes and monitors flat on his back and bare head to toe. The initial camera angle is positioned directly above him leaving him fully exposed. What movie comes to mind to you where the actors bared all for the sake of a realistic storyline.?

This topic was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Eyes wide shut

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

I have even more respect for an actor who took on a role that didn't necessarily require nudity; but felt that an authentic depiction of the character did require nudity. That shows a dedication to the craft; as opposed to just doing a nude scene for critical acclaim or a bigger paycheck.

One example that just came to mind was Julie Delpy in "Before Midnight." The scene is an argument between her and Ethan Hawke after she'd started undressing. She decided that it would make no sense for her character to cover back up for an argument. So she decided to film the entire "argument scene" topless. That rang especially true for me since I have myself had arguments wit my wife while she was nude or topless; and in the "real world" women don't cover-up to argue.

Julie Delpy didn't do it for the money of for "clout." She did it because it just made sense. Respect.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Kate Winslet, Helen Mirren, Nicole Kidman, to name just a few, ... seasoned actresses that don't have an issue with full nudity in films as long as it is true to the story and context of the scene. I'm sure we all like movies or TV/Cable movies that aren't afraid to show nudity when it makes sense. Some TV/Cable and big screen movies will show nudity that even has nudists scratching their heads about the context and need in a scene or more.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

What of prosthetic devices and merkins ?

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

I just remembered another scene. Rami Malek in Need For Speed. His extended strip down while quitting his corporate job would not have been the same had he kept his undies on. Full nudity was the only way to play it. Inside and outside on the street.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Life of Brian

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Life of Brian

yes when the actor throws open the shudders and finds the huge crowd in the street below.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Life of Brian

yes when the actor throws open the shudders and finds the huge crowd in the street below.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

Richard Gere in American Gigolo. Apparently, the famous nude scene was unscripted, he decided that it would make more sense for the character to be nude, so he was.

This post was edited
RE:Respect for an actor

I had such respect for Kathy Bates when she took it all off in "About Schmidt", a scene with her getting into a hot tub with Jack Nicholson. I'll bet few in her business would do that considering her large and in charge body style. I was floored and impressed - I bet most of the viewers (textilers) would complain and make some snide comment. Me, I gained a whole new respect for her and I already had a bunch.

The weirder part is that I really found the movie to be marginal in general, but that scene did stick with me. Maybe I need to watch it again! One further point is - who in production is making the decision to include nudism to further the story line? Putting aside whether the bareness is for the story line or more to engage the viewer with sexual content, the insistence of including the skin showing could come from any direction. Unless the viewer is lucky enough to be watching the DVD with extra features and sees or hears the director, actor, or someone else on the production team talking about how the nudism came about, or got some outside information through the media, it is tough to know for whom to give the credit.

Most of the actors being mentioned here are all svelte - let's hear about more movie moments where we get to see some normal bodies. And for the record, I thought Kathy looked beautiful!

This post was edited