Nudity is a big part of HBO's Westworld. If you aren't comfortable with nudity as an actor or actress, you'll definitely want to sidestep an offer in this show, because they really bare it out there for the world to see. Perhaps surprisingly, actress Thandie Newton didn't mind being nude on the set of the series as the host Maeve, and she actually even preferred it. Newton shares why she felt acting in the buff was better than her usual prostitute costume on the show below:
I found myself more empowered naked than I did with the saloon outfit on. I was more comfortable naked because the costume was the most potent objectification of a woman, with the boobs pushed right up, the tiny waist. It's an invitation for sex.
Thandie Newton is a big supporter of women's rights, and went on to say she felt she garnered more unwanted attention on set when she wore the corset getup, as opposed to when she was fully naked. Newton told Daily Mail that while she was nude, she felt as if she was treated with nothing but respect. I'm glad to hear that, because I feel that near the tail end of Season 1 (no pun intended), she was more naked than anyone else on the screen. I can't imagine the pressure of acting in front of a whole crew filming you, let alone doing it au natural!
Then again, on-screen nudity is not a new thing for Thandie Newton. While other projects may not be as intense as the full frontal of Westworld, Newton has appeared nude in some form in at least eight of her other projects. That sounds like a lot, but when you consider Newton's extensive career in Hollywood from 1991 on, it's just a handful of scenes, and they've all served a purpose beyond just gratuitous titillation. Newton's sense of body image and nudity has a much deeper meaning than just female empowerment.
Thandie Newton mentions in her interview that she struggled with bulimia when she was attending Cambridge University, saying the illness spurred from growing up as the type of girl that guys wanted to date, which caused her to damage her body. That's a powerful and honest statement that deserves respect. Considering how self-assured she is while walking around Westworld completely naked, it's hard to imagine Newton ever having body issues.
One would imagine that after the events of Season 1, we won't be seeing Thandie Newton in similar states of undress quite as much in Season 2. As for what we will see, that's pretty up in the air. Jimmi Simpson doesn't know if he'll be back, and no one has confirmed when Westworld will officially return beyond just "2018." If you're crazy about Westworld, be sure to bookmark our page for what we know about Season 2 and we'll keep you in the loop as soon as we learn anything. You can also check out our midseason premiere guide and keep track of any new shows HBO has on the way, or find another series until Westworld returns!
