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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Would you do frontal nudity if you were an actress?

90 replies

NotTodaySherry · 30/12/2020 01:48

For a lead role in a show like Game of Thrones or The Witcher?

I'm just getting back into acting (I went to drama school and did some acting work in my 20's) and recently, got a decent agent. I was asked to do a self tape for a new show not dissimilar to the above. Although, it didn't specify nudity I am paranoid that if I got the part they may ask to see the melons.

AIBU to not be ok with it despite wanting to do stuff like GOT?

OP posts:
coldwaterfeed · 30/12/2020 01:56

YANBU. Hope you make it!

MountDoom · 30/12/2020 02:00

Yes I'd show boobs no problem. Wouldn't be so keen to get the rest out but I thought you could wear paper or skin coloured pants on the bottom?!

krustykittens · 30/12/2020 02:08

I wouldn't have a problem with boobs but that would be it!

DioneTheDiabolist · 30/12/2020 02:12

YANBU to not want to do nude scenes OP.

coldwaterfeed · 30/12/2020 02:12

To clarify, I meant YANBU for not being ok with it. You shouldn’t feel pushed into anything you don’t want to do.

namechangetheworld · 30/12/2020 02:18

I'd do it. I think I would struggle to think of a big-name actress under 50 who hasn't got her boobs out on camera at some point.

Sparklesocks · 30/12/2020 02:18

It depends, I think it would be quite situational - like I would probs get my bits out for a big Hollywood film with a very respected director - but not for a straight to Netflix show or something low rent like the films channel 5 used to show at 1am on weekends. I know that might sound hypocritical, but context is key!

But you shouldn’t do anything you don’t feel 100% comfy in. Also there are a lot of websites which screenshot any female nudity and upload them in databases with the actress names - so just take into account anything you might do could be potentially permanently accessed on Google, rather than a single buried and forgotten scene.

ChestnutStuffing · 30/12/2020 02:29

No, I don't think I would. Not in that kind of show, and maybe not in any.

I'm not actually shy about nudity. I was in the army for many years and we regularly showered in communal showers, and I used to do some modelling for life drawing classes as well.

But I really think the film and television industry now is extraordinarily exploitative of young actresses, and to a lesser extent young actors. These are not roles that even pretend to be about the narrative - they are there for sexual interest for the viewer. Even the few that make an effort to seem part of the story are pretty superfluous and I don't think that's the real agenda.

I read an interview with Maggie Smith a while ago where she said she didn't think she could make it as a young actress today - she wouldn't be up for the nudity and it would make her career less tenable. Which is depressing but for me, I don't think that is an environment I'd want to participate in, where talented young women can't compete because of their sexual boundaries.

grassisjeweled · 30/12/2020 02:37

Meh, I'd not show the fandango

titan89 · 30/12/2020 02:37

I would struggle to think of a big-name actress under 50 who hasn't got her boobs out on camera at some point.

Interesting, who hasn't? Legit, just wondering. Open to correction. Has:

Reese Witherspoon
Cate Blanchett
Selma Hayek (probably has)
Good Question.

Butterymuffin · 30/12/2020 02:43

Of course YANBU to set that boundary. But with my cynical head on I think you'd also have to accept that that means you may not be cast for some parts, for the kind of reasons @ChestnutStuffing gives above. It's not right, but it seems to be the way it goes. All you can do is set your boundaries and prepare yourself for people to respond badly. Hopefully they won't.

Geronimorlassie · 30/12/2020 03:06

Reese Witherspoon has : into the wild.

DramaAlpaca · 30/12/2020 03:23

Nope. Never. But I'm not an actress and have no desire to be.

You need to decide on your boundaries and stick to them. I'm sure actors can get no nudity clauses written into their contracts. But I shouldn't think you'd get GOT style roles unless you were willing to do whatever the part required.

feelingverylazytoday · 30/12/2020 03:42

It's up to you. I would imagine it will limit your opportunities though as many roles do require nudity, and there will be actors who are prepared to do it.

HooverWhenTheCoastIsClear · 30/12/2020 04:13

No I'd not do it, but I've had kids so it's all a bit of a pigs ear.
I think most female nudity is utterly pointless and just in for gratuity.

The female form is beautiful but most movies just use women as wank fodder.

VashtaNerada · 30/12/2020 04:51

I wouldn’t now (forties) but probably would have in my twenties. Just because my body has changed a lot since having DC and no longer fits into the narrow bracket of what is seen as ‘acceptable’. Of course our understanding of what is ‘acceptable’ could and should change but I’m not sure I’d want to be one of the first!

nachthexe · 30/12/2020 05:23

Ain’t nobody wants to see that on a big screen...
It would be hugely role dependent, I think. I’m not a fan of gratuitous tits.

VetiverAndLavender · 30/12/2020 05:27

I'd have a problem with it, but I'm not an actress. Most people don't care as much about nudity these days, and if it would prevent you from landing an amazing role, I think even fewer would judge you for agreeing. But if you don't personally feel comfortable with it, fear of judgement may not be the concern.

wellthatsunusual · 30/12/2020 05:36

I wouldn't. And I think it's very sad that young actresses careers are limited by this. Emilia Clarke has spoken about feeling pressured into nudity on Game of Thrones and how having done it in the early series it has since been thrown back at her on other projects that she will disappoint people if she doesn't do it again. If all young actresses could stand in solidarity things could change, but the competition is so intense that if 99% of people don't feel comfortable with it but 1% do, it's the 1% who will lead the way. It's a very exploitative industry.

CheckYourMalePrivilege · 30/12/2020 05:42

Can't stand nudity on TV because 99% of the time, it's pointless - doesn't add anything to the story and only there to satisfy urges.

But it's your CHOICE. If you don't feel comfortable, you shouldn't go through with it. You can always add 'no nudity' clause and take what you get.

If you do feel comfortable, then do it regardless of what others can do/not, as long as you don't decide years later that you were forced and had no choice.

beautifulmonument · 30/12/2020 06:03

Having read Rose McGowan's Brave I would be worried about the professionalism of men on set and how I'd be treated while semi-naked

Zfactorstar · 30/12/2020 06:28

I personally wouldn't, but I've always had no problem with nudity and have posed fully nude for art before.

KatherineJaneway · 30/12/2020 06:32

Personally no.

The actresses I have met generally do some nudity but only if the script truly warrants it.

There is a section in this actors interview that Patricia Arquette discusses nudity, you might fund it useful.
DryHeave · 30/12/2020 06:36

YANBU. But now they have “intimacy coordinators” on set to ensure actors are properly treated during such scenes.

DorisDaisyMay · 30/12/2020 06:38

I think you have to be realistic about what the job entails.
There is nothing wrong with you having boundaries but you might not get the gig.