From Theo James to Dakota Johnson: Celebrities Who Boldly Embraced Full Frontal Nudity On Screen and Stage
Celebrities who bravely shared their experiences of baring it all on screen and stage: From Theo James to Dakota Johnson, these stars discuss their bold choice to go full frontal for their roles Discover the intimate details they revealed
Theo James, Dakota Johnson, and other actors have candidly discussed their experiences and reflections on their nude scenes, delving into the intricacies of baring it all on screen.
James garnered attention for his portrayal of Cameron in the second season of The White Lotus. Notably, there was a noteworthy scene where Harper (played by Aubrey Plaza) inadvertently caught a glimpse of Cameron (James) while he was undressing.
During a December 2022 interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, James expressed his desire for his prosthetic to not draw attention from the audience. He emphasized the importance of his character being relatable and focused on the power dynamics in the scene rather than the explicit content. Similarly, Johnson has openly discussed her portrayal of Anastasia in the film adaptation of E. L. James' 50 Shades of Grey trilogy, which gained notoriety for its provocative sexual scenes upon release.
Continue reading for additional honest remarks from actors regarding performing explicit scenes:
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Celebrities Who Opened Up About Going Full Frontal Nude on Screen and on Stage Over the Years: From Theo James to Dakota Johnson
Theo James, Dakota Johnson and more actors have opened up about their nude scenes — and broke down the experience of going full frontal.
James gained attention with his portrayal of Cameron in season 2 of The White Lotus, particularly in a memorable sequence where Harper (played by Aubrey Plaza) accidentally caught a glimpse of Cameron (James) while he was changing clothes.
James aimed to ensure that his "prosthetic" would not be overly distracting for the viewers. In a December 2022 interview on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, he explained, "He should appear like an ordinary person because the focus of the scene is not on the prosthetic, but rather on the power dynamics during the sexual encounter and whether it was intentional or accidental."
Johnson has also been open about portraying Anastasia in the film adaptation of E. L. James' 50 Shades of Grey trilogy. The movies garnered attention for their explicit sex scenes upon release.
During an interview with Glamour in 2015, the actress shared the stress involved in filming these scenes. "Being tied to a bed naked in a scene is already nerve-wracking," she revealed. "But what adds to it is when they yell 'cut' and you're still tied to the bed, naked. Jamie [Dornan] would always be quick to cover me with a blanket."
Scroll down for more candid commentary from actors about going full frontal:
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Barry Keoghan
In the 2023 film Saltburn, the actor fearlessly exposed themselves in a dance scene. Keoghan expressed his initial apprehension about being naked, but quickly embraced the experience. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly in November 2023, he revealed that after the first take, he was eager to continue, as the supportive and comfortable environment allowed him to fully focus on telling the story.
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Lukas Gage
In February 2023, during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he revealed his perspective on nudity, stating that he aligns more with European views. He clarified that although he's not actively seeking to be naked, he feels comfortable with it. For him, maintaining authenticity is important, and in certain intimate scenes, such as one involving him and his boss, it would be strange if he were fully clothed. He further emphasized the mechanical nature of filming such scenes, highlighting that it's far from being a sexy experience when a director instructs you on awkward movements.
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Theo James
In December 2022, James offered an explanation for his unexpected White Lotus moment. He expressed his desire for it to not be distracting, emphasizing the importance of portraying a regular individual. According to him, the scene focused on power dynamics and intentionality rather than the act itself.
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Dakota Johnson
During an interview in 2015, the Texas native discussed how the cast filmed the NSFW moments in 50 Shades of Grey.
"The scenes in that room were unquestionably the most delicate and exposed moments depicted in the movie," she revealed to Glamour. "Nevertheless, it was an incredibly intimate environment. My mother emphasized that it was completely within my rights to request a closed set for such scenes, which made it feel as if we, the co-star Jamie, director Sam Taylor-Johnson, and I, were transported into our very own secluded universe."
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Jesse Williams
After his full frontal moment in Broadway's Take Me Out went viral, Williams expressed his thoughts on the enthusiastic reaction. "Once you see it, you realize it's just a body. I need to downplay its significance," stated the Grey's Anatomy star during an interview on Watch What Happens Live With Andy Cohen in May 2022. "From my experience in theater, I've learned not to overanalyze it as that only increases insecurity. I've been told it's quite extraordinary. Since it's my first time, I have nothing to compare it to, and I won't be afraid of anything in the future."
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Olivia Wilde
In 2013, the Don't Worry Darling director humorously mentioned her nudity in Third Person, emphasizing that the scene did not expose everything and was rather comedic than sensual. She described it as pretending to skinny-dip, explaining that she just closed her eyes and ran.
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Bradley Cooper
Cooper expressed that his appearance without clothing in Nightmare Alley had a significant impact on him. During an interview on KCRW's The Business in January 2022, he shared, "When I read the script, I realized that being a preserved human fetus in that bathtub was crucial to the narrative. It was something I had to do."
The star of The Silver Linings Playbook explained that he accepted the challenge because the portrayal was not overly explicit. He stated that in order to authentically convey the content of the movie and explore it fully, they had to be emotionally and spiritually vulnerable.
However, Cooper was taken aback when he had to strip down in front of his costar, Toni Collette. He vividly remembers spending six hours completely naked in front of the crew, and it happened to be Collette's first day on set. It was an intense experience for him.
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Anne Hathaway
“These individuals have no issue with disrobing — their physicality serves as a means of exchange," Hathaway disclosed to Vogue in October 2010 regarding the portrayal of intimate scenes alongside Jake Gyllenhaal in Love and Other Drugs. "However, the notion of revealing their innermost selves frightens them immensely – the prospect of unveiling their emotional vulnerability."
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Ben Affleck
"You've done a lot of frontal scenes, been so daringly exposed, and yet somehow you were still passed over," the director teasingly remarked to Sacha Baron Cohen regarding his NSFW performance in Gone Girl during the January 2021 episode of Variety Studio: Actors on Actors.
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Alexandra Daddario
During an interview with Men’s Journal, Daddario candidly addressed the response to her full frontal moments in True Detective and The White Lotus.
"I have numerous thoughts regarding this topic. One instance is when True Detective was released, and I had a nude scene on the show. It had a tremendous impact on my career, leading to numerous job opportunities. It made me realize my sex appeal in a way I had never experienced before," she shared in December 2022. "However, I made sure not to take it too seriously. Acting is my true passion, and at heart, I am simply a theater enthusiast. I took this opportunity and acknowledged its positive influence on my career."
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Chris Pine
"There is definitely a clear double standard because no one would discuss it if it involved a woman," remarked the Star Trek actor during an interview with E! News in October 2018 regarding the attention surrounding their nudity in the series Outlaw on Netflix. "I find it perplexing. Why is it that women are expected to do it and not men? Why haven't men done it before? Is there an underlying sense of shame tied to the human body and human intimacy? However, when it comes to violence, self-harm, and inflicting pain upon others, we seem to accept it because that is what we have been taught is acceptable according to our culture. It's strange, to say the least."
Furthermore, he expressed, "To be honest, I couldn't care less. I'm actually quite embarrassed that it has become a topic of discussion."
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Rooney Mara
During an interview with Interview Magazine in 2013, Mara discussed her approach to filming full frontal scenes for Side Effects alongside Channing Tatum. She explained, "I simply follow instructions and adhere to the direction provided. If the character's nudity is relevant to the scene and I have faith in the filmmaker - although my trust in you diminishes now that I know you better - then I see no issue. I certainly won't participate in anything that is gratuitous, but I firmly believe that the human body is not something to be ashamed of."
The New York native concluded: "Every other person on the planet has the same parts as I do. So seeing them shouldn't be a huge shock to most people."
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Daniel Radcliffe
In reference to his participation in Equus, back in 2017 the actor famous for his role in Harry Potter humorously expressed his fondness for performing nude scenes. During an interview with Playboy, he mentioned, "There was absolutely no chance for any kind of preparation. I remained on stage throughout the entire production, and within a scene focused on sexual shortcomings and the distressing act of blinding a horse, I found myself dashing around unclothed for approximately ten minutes."
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Harry Hamlin
The opening night of Equus remains etched in my memory as one of my most embarrassing moments. I vividly recall the nerves that gripped me as I had to go full monty in the presence of 1,600 people for the very first time, all while enduring the bitter cold of the Geary Theater. This anecdote was exclusively shared by the renowned L.A. Law alum during our conversation in January 2023.
