November 16th, 2007
It makes sense that "respectable" actors and actresses, at least of the American and British varieties, tend to remain clothed, at least onscreen. A palpable disdain—as if somehow they've been tainted—sometimes follows those who disrobe, even when the nudity isn't gratuitous. Another reason to keep covered: The Internet offers a public forum for the kind of physical scrutiny—positive and negative—that even Hollywood's most perfect don't want. Here, The A.V. Club examines stars who've risen above the "nudity is below me" rule, and offers a taste of the chatter—most from the admirably, sometimes hilariously detailed Celebrity Nudity Database—that probably gives them second thoughts about it. [Note: None of the accompanying clips include nudity, so don't get your hopes up.]
1. Halle Berry
Halle Berry is the perfect example of an actress who's exposed herself for right and wrong reasons: In Monster's Ball, her sex scene with Billy Bob Thornton provides an emotional climax; in Swordfish, she's just kinda sitting there with her boobs out, so Hugh Jackman (and, umm, the rest of us) can get a look. (She famously took a big paycheck for the Swordfish scene.) Choice cndb.com user comment: "Great sex scene with that looser Billy Bob. Some nice shots of her ass and breasts, can't wait to examine further on DVD."
2. Julianne Moore
Multiple Best-Actress nominee Julianne Moore (The Hours, Boogie Nights, Far From Heaven) has done an incredible job of picking roles: The stinkers on her résumé are far outnumbered by truly excellent films. In Robert Altman's Short Cuts, she shares an intense argument with Matthew Modine, and her entirely unsexy shouts are delivered bottomless. Her nudity is clearly intended to convey emotional vulnerability and comfort with her husband, but it may have been enjoyed for other reasons. Choice cndb.com user comment: "great shot of her glowing red pubes, also get some nice shots of her can as she walks around. if u love julianne, their is no other movie u need to see…"
3. Harvey Keitel
Little Harvey Keitel has appeared in several movies, from a straight-up sex scene with Holly Hunter in The Piano to several near-depraved scenes in Bad Lieutenant. In the latter, big Harvey plays an anguished, drug-addicted cop who can't reconcile his lifestyle with his religious leanings, which culminates in a naked, Christ-like pose. Choice cndb.com user comment: "He is very muscular for his age and has sculptured abs and thighs although his penis is not that big. Still, he is a very brave actor."
4. Jennifer Jason Leigh
While the brief flash of Phoebe Cates' breasts ruined VHS copies of Fast Times At Ridgemont High the world over, it's likely that more young boys actually wanted to take Jennifer Jason Leigh in their arms after she exposed her vulnerable body to not one, but two manipulative assholes. While that wasn't Leigh's last nude appearance by a long shot, Fast Times pretty much marked the last shred of her innocence: In both the cable version of Girls Of The White Orchid and Last Exit To Brooklyn, she's nude while getting raped, and in Single White Female, her exposed breasts are attached to a complete psycho. Choice cndb.com user comment: Toplessness has become an established part of Leigh's repertoire, prompting one cndb.com user to yawn about Sister, Sister, "Breasts, same as you've seen in just about every movie she does."
5. Maria Bello
It takes a certain comfort level (and devotion to the role) to appear in a love scene. Not only is Maria Bello comfortable doing it, she'll even discuss her pubic hair afterward—as she did in the doc This Film Is Not Yet Rated, talking about her controversial sex scene in The Cooler. And Bello isn't afraid to get graphic; check out her two unsettling sex scenes with Viggo Mortensen in A History Of Violence. Choice cndb.com user comment: "Lovely Anna from ER bares her breasts in a love scene with Ben Stiller. It's kinda dark and pretty fast, but I'm glad she did it!"
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