Emma may be happy to strip at 62 – but I’ll never do it again
DAME Emma Thompson has shot up in my estimation by stripping off for her latest role in the film Good Luck To You, Leo Grande. She plays a widowed teacher who hires a young escort in the hope of experiencing better sex than she had in her marriage. her co-star, Daryl McCormack, also got his kit off as did the director, Sophie hyde, and not only did they perform in the nude, they rehearsed without clothes, too. She formed a bond with McCormack, sharing muddy walks on hampstead heath, laughing and holding on to each other. (hope her lovely husband, Greg Wise, hasn’t had his nose put out of joint!)
The experience was, the star admits, challenging but, at age 62, she says she doesn’t think she would have been able to do such revealing scenes when younger.
Is she saying women grow more confident with their bodies as they grow older? If so, I’m sorry, Emma, I just don’t believe you. I have yet to meet the woman, however beautiful, slender and toned, of whatever age, who feels truly confident about the way she looks.
I have never been more terrified and embarrassed than the day I summoned up the guts to strip off, aged 70, for the Full Monty On Ice in 2020. I had agreed to do the TV show, which involved a final reveal of the upper half of our bodies, for the very best of reasons.
ThE idea was to have fun while delivering a very important message — early diagnosis of cancer leads to a better chance of life-saving treatment. Unlike Emma, we did not have to be semi-naked during the weeks of rehearsal, but the terror of what was to come filled us with deep anxiety about the inevitable.
We had promised to do it, but I thought about developing an unfortunate illness to give me a chance to opt out. Even Linda Lusardi, not short, as a former Page 3 girl, of experience exposing her breasts, was as nervous as the rest of us. She still has beautiful breasts. I couldn’t compare, having only the one remaining after a mastectomy in my 50s.
My professionalism wouldn’t allow me to duck out. I did it, hated the few seconds during which I was exposed and couldn’t get into a dressing gown fast enough.
So no, Emma, I don’t believe body confidence improves as you get older. I never stripped off as a young woman and would never, ever consider it again.
Why are so many of us unsure about the way we look no matter how many compliments we get?
During my time on Woman’s hour, I interviewed some beautiful women — Catherine Deneuve, Jeanne Moreau, Simone Signoret, Sophia Loren, Lauren Bacall and Angelina Jolie, to name a few.
Often, they wore dark glasses, maybe a wig and each one pointed to her faults rather than her assets. A nose that was too big, eyes that were not big enough, a body that was considered too tall, too short or ungainly. Not one was prepared to accept that in every sense she was simply stunning.
It’s not a trait I’ve ever observed in a man. My suspicion is that the trend to embrace body positivity has touched very few of us. From when we’re little girls, the emphasis on looking good is overwhelming.
It’s a habit I doubt has changed much since the days before feminism made us challenge the old expectation that you have to look gorgeous to catch a man.
Plenty of mothers still want their girls to be slim and pretty — mine certainly did. We are on show, selling our wares while, at the same time, warned of the wrong messages we might be sending out and the dangers of giving the wrong idea to any passing fella.
No wonder so many of us hate our bodies — because we don’t really know what we’re supposed to do with them.