A
female
age
26-29,
*shiningstar
writes:Hi uncle and aunties. I need some advice. I am an aspiring actress who is still in the middle of completing my bachelors degree at uni. I have done occasional work in TV commercials when I was a child growing up in my home country. I have also acted as an extra in several Aussie TV shows and even had a 2 minute speaking role in the latest Marvel Thor movie which was unfortunately edited out in the final cut. Needless to say it is very hard to get my first break.About 2 months ago I auditioned for a role as an extra. They advertised for someone with an Oriental appearance. I am originally from Singapore. They were casting for a new miniseries that had majority of its principal photography in Australia but with a script set in USA. I went in very hopeful to land a role as it was a big budget production with expensive special effects and several A-list Hollywood actors on board. Anyway I did not expect much and thought it would be the same as the dozens of other failed auditions I had attended in the past.I was surprised to receive a call from my agent saying that they were so impressed by me that they were considering me for a recurring role with about 30 lines. However I wasn't prepared when they told me that it required someone who was comfortable with doing on-screen nudity. They said they were impressed with my fluent English and were looking for someone with stature. I am 174 cm tall and most of the other hopefuls hailed from China and Hong Kong where they don't speak much Engligh. I guess my heavily accented Sing-lish learned from growing up in Singapore must have help LOL.To make a long story short I beat the other contenders. It was an awkward experience as during the second half of the audition they needed to see whether I was comfortable acting without my clothes. The camera was not rolling at that time. Somehow I kept my composure and even managed a convincing fake American accent LOL. I received a call from my agent on Saturday with this pleasant surprise. However I am not sure if I should grab this opportunity. Where I grew up in Singapore, society is very conservative and backwards. I think if I made it all the way to become a successful actress, everything would be alright. However if I don't make it and eventually fade into obscurity, then i will need a backup plan to fall back on. My parents want me to be someone with professional job. Meaning a boring person who sits in a boring office every weekday 8 hours a day doing a boring job. Just like all typical Asian parents. I am studying Computer Science which I done even enjoy just because my elder sister is an IT manager and they think it means she is successful person.Assuming I were to get a job in Australia after graduating, I think it would be safe for me. However if I were to go back to Singapore it would be hell for me. I am sure employers will discriminate against me and I might be the target of sexual harassment. Singapore is a very backward and chauvinistic society.There are many strong women role models who have done nudity such as Cherie Blair who did nude artist modeling and Carla Bruni who was France's second lady who had a modelling past. They are well respected but unfortunately they would not even exist in my country. Now I am at a cross road. I can't decide whether to take this role or not. This is a one in a lifetime opportunity. My friends say doing nudity during my first big role is a sure way to derail my acting career. However people like Kate Winslet and Angelina Jolie have done lots of nudity and they are still A list actresses and well respected in the showbusiness industry. Reply to this Question
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female
reader, anonymous, writes (30 March 2018): I can tell you that I once was involved in making a very short trailer for a non existent film and I was very surprised by the male reaction to the girl who took her top off in the bed and displayed her assets to the camera.They slated her!!They said things like "oh, she can't act" etc.When I said "Well, she certainly got into her role!" They said things like "oh no, she was nothing special !"When the other girl acted nervous and insisted and insisted on keeping her vest and pants on they gave her a glass of champagne and treated her like a film star.She had to simulate sex and her co star just did some fake kissing, no tongues in mouth etc and twirled her a bit gymnastically around the bed while she giggled breathlessly.Afterwards they said she was fantastic, amazing, on the nail, extraordinary, a brilliant actress and a real star.I instantly realised that was the ethos.They want the nudity but they slam the actress for it.Once they've seen your tits they are no longer bothered.Been there, seen that is the attitude.It is creepy because they beg for it fist.On that simple note I would say tell them "Hell, no! I'm worth so much more than that!" The sad part is that after the role they only get offered sleaze roles so be warned.Most famous actors refused nudity or insisted on a body double such as Julia Roberts in Pretty woman.If you must do it,you should demand a body stocking so that you can still have that air of mystery.So I would give it some thought for yourself.Personally I think nudity is natural but commercially it is a no-no!
A
female
reader, Honeypie  +, writes (29 March 2018):
 I'm ABSOLUTELY with Code Warrior here.
While I have no problem with nudity, I have an issue with "pointless" nudity. Basically, it's because the director or financier wants to see some naked flesh. I'm not saying all movies should work like a Barbara Cartland romance novel (where they kiss and scene fades to black so the reader have to use their OWN imagination of what came next) but I absolutely find myself ROLLING my eyes when nudity is tossed in for "good measure" with NO real purpose. It's NOT great writing to be graphic in detail, it's great writing when you can tell a story without HAVING to spell EVERYTHING out constantly. If you get my point?
I'd like you to read this article about Selma Hayek and her experiences with making Frida Kahlo and how she was (or rather, FELT forced) to do nude scenes for the SHEAR pleasure of Harvey Weinstein's ego - the "lesbian scenes" he DEMANDED to be put in there were even cut and never used, they weren't even in the frigging script!)
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2017/12/13/opinion/contributors/salma-hayek-harvey-weinstein.html
Now, I'm not saying ALL men in the film industry are like him but I DO believe that the "general attitude" of MANY filmmakers, is that the "public" (mainly male viewers) want nudity. Gratuitous nudity. Because they are STILL of the mindset that SEX, T & A sells. If you look at HBO shows, nudity seems like it's a must. Even when the stories can be told WITHOUT it. To me it's like "society" is pushing "porn acceptance" to the max. "Oh, it's no big deal. It's artistic, Oh here is a dick too so you can't say it's just nude ladies!!"...
Like Code Warrior mentioned in his first answer to you, the show GOT have more "exploitative nudity" for the "gasp aren't we courageous!" factor than to move the story along. Cersei's walk of shame would have made a MUCH bigger impact if it had been more of a "stand alone" nudity instead of the constant sprinkling of T&A's.
And like Code Warrior also mentioned, if WAY more experiences actresses turned it DOWN due to the nudity, i's because -
1. they have other options
2. the nudity isn't worth taking the role for
3. they have established from the get-go that they do not want to do full nudity.
4. the nudity doesn't make ENOUGH sense for them to go:" AH yes, I see why you want my tits out, it will explain everything".!
I GET that a more experienced actress can say no "easier" than someone trying to "break into" the industry, but I also think it IS important to have standards and values for WHAT you are willing to do. Do for fame, do for money.
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A
female
reader, Andie's Thoughts  +, writes (29 March 2018):
 I'm with CW, more experienced actresses turning it down because of the nudity suggests it's nudity for the sake of, not to benefit the story. If 50 - 75% is nudity, then your character is there for eye candy, not talent or depth. Nudity isn't needed to show vulnerability.
Personally, I'd turn it down. Guaranteed they'll find someone else who is happy to be known as "the girl who spent half to three quarters of the film naked". Are you?
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A
female
reader, ashiningstar +, writes (29 March 2018):
ashiningstar is verified as being by the original poster of the questionWhile I do not doubt that I would not have gotten the role without my looks, I wouldn't say they created my character just as eye candy. It is hard for me to describe the context of the nudity without giving away the plot. According to my agent, 50% to 75% of my character's scenes contain some element of nudity.Basically my character becomes deceased at some point, and there is some nudity at the point where the audience discovers her demise, I think as a visual device to shock the audience. That would be the first nude scene. There are also scenes where my character isn't really physically present but she appears as hallucinations that converse with one of the main protagonists. These surreal scenes are interspersed with flashbacks of my character when she was alive, slowly revealing pieces of her mysterious past. The editing of the scenes are not in chronological order, they are non linear, akin to the editing style employed by Christopher Nolan in his film Dunkirk (not sure what that means... have not watched Dunkirk... just repeating what my agent said). Showing test audiences the storyboard with this sequence confused them, so it was decided to make my character unclothed during his hallucinations to emphasize the difference.My character has a lot of dialog, so she isn't just some pretty bimbo. In fact she is quite a nasty arrogant character in the beginning, sort of a privileged and narcissistic feminist. I think the producers want to show her vulnerable side as well through the nudity.My character does not have a single sex scene in this story. According to my agent there is full frontal male nudity as well. From reading bits and pieces of the script it looks like the producers going for a dark atmosphere for this series, maybe that explains the nudity. When I described what i know so far to one of my friends, he said this sound like a film-noir movie.I asked the agent if they could tone down the nudity but she said they turned down more experienced actors that had similar demands as me. What my agent could do, she said, is negotiate a higher pay according to the level of nudity in the final cut.
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A
female
reader, YouWish +, writes (29 March 2018):
 The real question is -- how is the nudity applied??
If it feels cheap or porn-starish, I can totally understand your hesitation! However, I have seen roles on TV and movies where a woman's nudity was treated as empowering and an enhancer of plot development. As a Game of Thrones fan, Daenerys Targaryen/Cersei Lannister's Walk of Atonement come to mind, as the nudity wasn't used to titillate the viewers or thrown in gratuitously.
If the script has a meaningful reason for your nudity to be part of the movie, it can be a good move for you. If it's cheap and predatory and degrading, then you should pass on it.
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A
male
reader, TylerSage +, writes (29 March 2018):
 This is a tricky situation....Personally, I feel like unknown actors who get naked in front of the camera early never seem to make it far. A-list actors usually start doing nudity roles LATER in their career when they've already made a name for themselves and nudity for THEM then becomes a bigger deal for all the fans and paparazzi that follow them. Some A-List actors refuse to go nude in roles. I think Charlize Theron is one.On the other hand, this is a big opportunity, as you'll be rubbing elbows with A-list celebrities and get much more lines than before. It comes down to what you're comfortable with and what you're willing and capable of defending when you're back up against the wall. Will you be able to cooly and confidently justify whatever action you decide to take?Don't sacrifice your morals for your goals.But don't sacrifice your goals because of what you think other people will say either.Follow your bliss and trust your gut. Look back on life with no regrets.All the best.
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A
female
reader, Andie's Thoughts +, writes (29 March 2018):
Okay, so:1) Congrats on being offered it2) It is a great opportunity, but it's a huge risk3) Nude scenes should be important to the film or it does make you look like you're just a sexy body for the sake of it, with little acting talent4) Listen to your friends; whether you take it or not, they're right that nudity in your first ever role is likely to cast doubt about your acting ability for future roles - Kate Winslet and Angelina Jolie had good connections in the industry and had a couple of ordinary roles before nude ones, I believeMy advice is to take a good look at the script and your lines. If they are decent lines and not portraying you as a stupid person who gets by on just her looks, the nudity may be worth it.Personally, I think that the nudity on your first role would be okay, IF there is more to your character than just that. If most/all of your lines make your character look stupid or only worth sex, then I think you'd be better off politely refusing the role. You don't want to be defined as "a sexual object with little brains and no talent" purely because your character is frequently nude or in skimpy clothes.Whatever you choose to do, it's important that you do have a back-up plan, career-wise. We all need to have a reliable job whilst we chase our more unlikely dreams. That's why many aspiring actors are waiters/waitresses, particularly in major cities like Los Angeles, Sydney and London.Many people who are studying for their dream job have a "regular"/"boring" job to keep them going until they get the opportunity to work full-time in their dream job. You don't have to work a "boring" job or work in an office, but do have a stable job whilst you audition.Absolutely go for your dreams, but be responsible about it - that means having a reliable job, even just part-time, and assessing the scripts you're offered to make sure they give you a chance to show your acting skills, not just your body.Let us know what you decide :)
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A
female
reader, mystiquek +, writes (29 March 2018):
 It depends on what kind of a person you are, what you can live with now and later on in life. Some people have done nude photo shoots, roles and live to regret it every single day. Just remember once on the internet, always on the internet. Your family, friends future children could all see this. If you are ok with it, who is to stop you? I could never do this. Most nudity is definitely not necessary, I agree with the other 2 posters. Whatever decision you make you realize it could follow you for the rest of your life.
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A
female
reader, Honeypie +, writes (28 March 2018):
Part from the nudity is the role GOOD? Does it give you a chance to show of your skills other than T&A? Is ALL the work you will be doing in this movie without clothes on?
And have you talked to the agent about the nudity? Is it 100% necessary? I swear in so many movies they add a nude (mostly) woman for no other reason than to show some boobs.
I recently watched Altered Carbon (It's a Netflix miniseries) and it was amazingly good, there WAS a lot of nudity (male AND female) but I swear 90% of it could have been done with outfits on. I think they CHOSE to add the nudity to make it look more... edgy. I think the show would have been JUST as great with some clothes on. So to speak.
And I'm not a prude. I grew up in Denmark, where nudity is no big deal. Going topless at the beach? No big deal.
Plenty of actors and actresses have done nudity and still made more movies. While I DO think you need to be picky with roles (so you don't get slotted at a tall Asian looking girl who is willing to be nude) - this might also BE the role that takes you further. And it might not be.
You have to be the one to make this choice. It's YOUR body, your career, your life and YOUR future.
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