Emma Thompson has admitted she found it 'extremely challenging' to strip nude for her latest film role as she opened up about the 'dreadful' demands on women - both on screen and in real-life to have 'perfect bodies'.
The Academy Award winning actress is cast as a widowed school teacher who hires a male escort in the hope of having her first orgasm in Good Luck To You, Leo Grande.
Thompson said: "It's very challenging to be nude at 62.
"I don't think I could have done it before the age that I am.
"And yet, of course, the age that I am makes it extremely challenging because we aren't used to seeing untreated bodies on the screen."
Speaking at the film's virtual Sundance Film Festival premier she told how preparing for her latest role saw her rehearse nude with co-star Daryl McCormack and director Sophie Hyde to learn about each other's bodies.
She said: "Sophie, Daryl, and I rehearsed entirely nude and talked about our bodies, talked about our relationship with our bodies, drew them, discussed the things that we find difficult about, things we like about them, described one another's bodies," Thompson said in a Cinema Cafe conversation at Sundance.
The pair also got to know each other further taking walks in London's Hampsted Heath to get to build up to the close bond required to be nude in each other's scenes.
She added:"That was very important that we could hold onto each other and laugh," Thompson said.
"Actually, that's what we've done the entire time: held onto each other, slid about, and laugh. That walk kind of was emblematic of the whole journey."
Due to her latest role opening up the conversations around body image she reflected on the struggles women face both on and off screen.
"Nothing has changed in the dreadful demands made upon women in the real-world world but also in acting," Thompson said. "This thing of having to be thin is still the same as it ever was, and actually in some ways I think it's worse now."
The film, which is yet to be picked up for distribution, also stars Harry Potter actress Isabella Laughland.
Thompson is also currently filming an adaptation of the musical Matilda, playing Miss Trunchbull, alongside Stephen Graham, Andrea Riseborough and Lashanna Lynch.
