Myth: All Movies “Need” Sex Scenes and Nudity
And why I’m not planning on having them in most of my future work.
Are we oversexed in 2026? Yeah. We are.
Robbie, who has had to contend with stalkers and death threats, is now forced to spend a great deal of time and resources on personal security. “There’s just all this stuff you learn along the way, like, when you get those death threats, it’s [smart] to have a security team do a background check on whoever sent them to see if there is any past history of violence because you’ll need to know whether you need security to go to certain events,” she explains. “And every time you do a background check, it’s going to cost $2,000, so take that into consideration when you’re getting yourself into this.”
— Margot Robbie
The screenplay you’re writing does not need a sex scene. Come on, call it what it is: a lazy way out.
I’m not saying every movie, or sex scenes are wrong. For most, yes. Half or more of cinematic and television releases could benefit from skipping the gritty aspects of sex scenes.
When your plot runs thin, write in something for your stars to wind up on anonymous Reddit-posted nudity without context, so it goes in 2026.
“My film needs it.”
Sure, it does. 🙄 The excuses.
“But it makes it more realistic.”
If you’re old enough to get the plot, you can fill in the blanks. Actors act. Adult actors, adult act. We shouldn’t cruelly disrespect the latter, but let’s not blur the division there.
“But it’s art.”
Tell that to anyone harassed online and offline after taking nude scenes, because their fan bases don’t see them as art.
“But it’s empowering.”
Sure feels fun being the billionth empowered actress paid very little and seeing no career advancements for that critically acclaimed, going nowhere indie film role with nudity.
Being fully nude as the male co-star is clothed and/or framed differently is equality, right?
Don’t you love being nude in a room full of clothed strangers watching you?
“You’re being prudish.”
No. Notice I didn’t say all movies. I said most.
“But I need to work.”
Have you seen some of the degrading pay for all the nude roles around? You make more money with fast food.
“But I need IMDb credits, and they all require nudity.”
No, they don’t. I’ve gotten an IMDb credit for voicing my actress pal’s audio drama series. Go find your nearest pals. It can be done.
Nude scenes exist because people keep saying yes to them. Maybe it’s time to collectively say no, unless the scenes benefit the story.
Writing your own scripts for stage, TV, and film, you can edit them out.
More people saying no makes them art again.
Think of old Hollywood classic cinema. Did The Wizard of Oz need Dorothy watching adult movies in a hot tub to move the plot along? Did she get together with The Tin Man? Make out with the Wicked Witch of the West? Have a solo scene filming uhhhh—No.
David Beckham in undies sells a product: the underwear. Victoria’s Secret pushes panties and swimwear. Who really is the product in the nude scene nobody needed? You. The filmmaker doesn’t get naked. The screenwriter didn’t. The producers don’t. You do. You’re the one pinned up in online message boards out of context. You are for sale in the window.
What is a good example of nudity telling a point in a story? Jennifer Lawrence in Red Sparrow.
What didn’t need it? Probably everything you saw last year.
A publicly traded stock often goes down in value when a product is ubiquitous. Nudity as stale shock value is that overexposed product.
The new shock value is keeping your clothes on.
When very liberal, performing arts and Hollywood adjacent, extremely heterosexual men are now commenting to me how they’re sick of seeing sex everywhere, the world is in disarray. The time is now for movies and shows to have plots again. Dignity for our characters and the human beings playing them. Respect for our written words.
My goal of not having nudity as a prerequisite for my acting talent, and myself in roles I play, is giving cinema a little kick of old Hollywood again, when glamour, girl next door beauty, strong writing, wardrobe, sets, cinematography, and reality meeting script told the tale.
People who want to see nudity know where to find it online. You want a real show, come see my work as it happens.
Sensuality ≠ constantly nudity. Period.
