Unexpected but Most Welcome: Nude Scenes by Quirky Character Actresses

Judy Greer in Adaptation

Of course, it generates a lot of publicity when an A-list actress like, say, Natalie Portman or Anne Hathaway has a nude scene or an intense sex scene in a motion picture. And believe me, ladies, it's appreciated. But what really makes my day is a nude scene by a slightly more unconventional actress, one whom you might not necessarily expect to appear unclothed on camera. I'm talking about the kinds of actresses who play the leading roles in low-budget, independent pictures but who are generally relegated to smaller supporting roles in major studio films.

So here, then, is a tribute to those quirky character actresses who have doffed their duds on camera for our enjoyment over the years. (If you feel I have missed any, please let me know in the comments.)

(Decidedly NSFW after the break.)


Cynthia Stevenson

Cynthia Stevenson nude

Nude in: Robert Altman's The Player (pictured)

I've honestly never been so surprised to see an actress nude onscreen than Cynthia, who is probably best known for playing naive, optimistic women in TV sitcoms like Bob and Hope & Gloria. But there she is, bare-breasted in the hot tub with Tim Robbins. Go figure. And below is the clip to prove it:

Cynthia Stevenson Nude in A Hot Tub - Sexymoment.co.cc - Funny home videos are a click away

Jane Adams

Jane Adams nude

Jane Adams nude

Nude in: The Anniversary Party (pictured - top); Happiness (pictured - bottom)

Jane Adams, not to be confused with the former First Lady, first caught my eye in the devastating film Happiness, which opens with her brutal break-up scene opposite Jon Lovitz. Not exactly a conventional Hollywood beauty, Ms. Adams is clearly comfortable with nudity as evidenced by her bold scenes from The Anniversary Party.

Jennifer Jason Leigh

Jennifer Jason Leigh nude

Jennifer Jason Leigh nude

Nude in: Fast Times at Ridgemont High (pictured - top), Miami Blues (pictured - bottom left), Single White Female (pictured - bottom right), etc.

Jennifer kind of sets the standard in this category, doesn't she? After all, she's been unabashed about showing her body in motion pictures, and yet she still somehow doesn't seem like the "naked type," i.e. the kind of actress who is defined principally by her sexuality. A lifelong favorite of mine, probably due to her much more prim role as a reporter in The Hudsucker Proxy.

Jennifer Jason Leigh Nude - More amazing video clips are a click away

J J Leigh - Miami Blues by StanHolder

Jessica Harper

Jessica Harper nude

Nude in: Inserts (pictured), Pennies From Heaven

One of the definitive cult movie actresses, wide-eyed and apple-cheeked Jessica Harper has appeared in such oddball classics as Suspiria, Phantom of the Paradise and Shock Treatment. Her nude scene in the underrated Inserts is lengthy and generous. In fact, it deserves a second picture:

Jessica Harper nude

You're quite welcome, I'm sure.

Judy Greer

Judy Greer nude

Judy Greer nude

Nude in: Adaptation (pictured - top); What Planet Are You From? (pictured - bottom); The Great New Wonderful; Stricken

Judy is probably best known for playing "wacky best friend" roles in terrible mainstream romantic comedies like 27 Dresses, but I think she's much more at home in quirkfests like Adaptation and the TV series Arrested Development. Don't you agree? Perhaps the picture above will convince you.

UPDATE: Since so many people have found this article by searching for Judy Greer, I've decided to give you clips of her two best scenes.


Judy Greer - Adaptation by radhakishan

Judy Greer - For more of the funniest videos, click here

Mary Woronov

Mary Woronov nude

Mary Woronov nude

Nude in: Eating Raoul (pictured - top); Sugar Cookies (pictured - bottom left); Death Race 2000 (pictured - bottom right)

From being one of Andy Warhol's Superstars to playing a prison warden in an episode of Charlie's Angels, Mary Woronov has had one of the most varied, bizarre, and entertaining film careers in history. She is probably best-loved for her roles in Roger Corman films, which is where she first teamed up with kindred spirit Paul Bartel.

Ming-Na Wen

Ming-Na Wen nude

Nude in: One Night Stand (pictured)

Talk about a quirky career! To my eyes, Ming-Na is one of the loveliest women ever to be photographed in motion pictures, but she is arguably best known for her voice acting! Her IMDb filmography is all over the place. You probably know her best as the voice of the title character in Mulan, but here she is with Wesley Snipes in One Night Stand. Wesley actually cheats on her in this film, which practically qualifies it as science-fiction. If by chance you would like to see a clip of Ming-Na's breasts rising and falling as she breathes, here you go:

Ming-Na Wen - One Night Stand Topless Scene - Funny video clips are a click away

Parker Posey

Parker Posey nude

Parker Posey nude

Nude in: The Anniversary Party (pictured - top); Happy Tears (pictured - bottom); The Misadventures of Margaret, Sleep With Me

I'd say Parker's greatest claim to cinema immortality is her participation in the ensemble comedies of Christopher Guest, including Waiting for Guffman and Best in Show. But she has the typical "quirky actress" resume, i.e. small roles in big movies, big roles in small movies. And along the way, she's amassed quite a nudography.

Patricia Arquette

Patricia Arquette nude

Nude in: Lost Highway (pictured), Human Nature

Probably best known for the TV series Medium, Patricia has appeared in any number of interesting, off-beat motion pictures, including Ed Wood, Bringing out the Dead (with one-time husband Nicolas Cage!), and True Romance. Luckily for us, she has not been shy about exposing her physique. The video quality in the following montage is not superlative, but the quality of pure Arquette exposure is exquisite.


Patricia Arquette - Lost Highway by KenRove

P.J. Soles

P.J. Soles nude

P.J. Soles nude

Nude in: Stripes (pictured -top); Halloween (pictured - bottom)

Another long-time crush of mine, mainly thanks to her starring performance in Rock 'n' Roll High School, P.J. has a brief, famous topless scene in Halloween ("Like what you see?") but actually does a much lengthier, more generous striptease in the unrated director's cut of Stripes. Sometimes, I wish I were a film producer just so I could cast P.J. Soles in something.

Rose McGowan

Rose McGowan nude

Rose McGowan nude

Nude in: Going All the Way (pictured - top), The Doom Generation (pictured - bottom)

Formerly the girlfriend of shock rocker Marilyn Manson, Rose McGowan once appeared at the MTV Video Music Awards in an extremely revealing dress, an incident which brought her lots of publicity but which has probably overshadowed her actual movie career, including her roles in both halves of the Grindhouse double feature.

And that just about wraps it up, so to speak. Should this article prove a success, I am considering a sequel featuring Jenny Agutter, Mathilda May and others.

UPDATE: If you enjoyed this article, there's a sequel right here!

And there's a three-quel here!

And a special Angelina Jolie tribute here!