Interview

It’s always nice to get hit with random nudity when you sit down to watch a movie or TV show, but have you ever wondered what it was like to shoot the scene for the actress who got naked? The ones who provided the eye candy for some gratuitous nude scene without having any or very few lines? I have, and decided to find out. This will be an interview series from the perspective of actresses who appeared nude or topless in famous movies or TV shows. The ones who played the role of “Party Girl” or “Stripper”. Hopefully you will enjoy this read and I can continue with it.

First up we have Aléa Figueroa who appeared topless in an episode of HBO’s Ballers called Laying in the Weeds (Episode 8 in Season 2). In the scene Spencer (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson) is throwing a Draft party that gets a little crazy. He is looking for his friend Sizzle (Terrel Suggs) to ask him for a favour and walks in on him having sex with a topless girl (Aléa Figueroa) on his own bed.

Question: Lets start off with how you got the part? Did you audition for this role specifically or was it a general casting call for the show?
Aléa Figueroa: I was shooting a TV show for Oxygen (#KillerPost) in Tennessee, and my agent called me at 10am on a Friday and told me to look over the breakdown for a role on Ballers.

She said if I was interested to get my audition to her asap. My headshot and resume had already been submitted, and now they were asking for a taped audition. She knew I was shooting out of town so I had to tape it on my cell phone in the hotel. I had a fellow actor assist me. I set up a make-shift studio, taped the scene, and sent it in within two hours. The actor that had helped me also had to tape an audition that day so we helped each other out. I had to fly to Miami on Saturday for a convention that I was working, and on the way back home Monday morning my agent called me to let me know that I had booked the role! I was to shoot in Miami later on in the week.

Q: Did you know going in that it would be a topless scene? How was the scene described to you when you first found out about it?
A: I was told up front (during the audition process) that this would be a topless scene. They were very clear with what would and would not be seen on camera. Once I booked the role, my agent confirmed that for me as well.

When I read the scene, I thought it was hilarious. I mean, how many times does The Rock get to walk in on you going to town. 🙂

Q: Was this your first topless scene?
A: Ever? No. For TV? Yes. I am a theatre girl and receive my BA in Theatre Arts from Rollins College. My last show that I performed in at Rollins was Equus in which I had to do a scene completely nude. However, this was my first time performing a topless scene for TV or film.

Q: Did you have any sort of reprehension about doing it?
A: A bit. I am pretty comfortable in my skin but I would lie if I told you I wasn’t nervous. However, I’m an actress so if the scene calls for it then I’m a team player.

Q: Your character’s name is Jody (which is never said in the actual show right?), and I always wonder when a minor character has a name, where did that name came from? Or if there is there a reason they gave her a name rather than “party girl” or something similar?
A: Good question. In the script, the character is written as “Jody.” There was a scene that was cut from the show that Terrell Suggs introduces the character. However, unfortunately, it didn’t make the final cut.

Q: Now, onto the scene. It’s a pretty crazy party scene. What was the direction like from the director?
A: First and foremost, he wanted to make sure that we were comfortable. Everything was very professional. Originally, we were talking about being on the ground but we ultimately thought that it would be funnier (going at it on the clean clothes). That was Terrell Suggs’ idea and I went with it.

Q: Did the scene go down exactly as you thought when you took the part or did it change?
A: It was pretty much what I envisioned. I actually thought a bit more skin would be exposed.

Q: Were you nervous when it came down to shooting it?
A: Absolutely. Who wouldn’t be? Not only was I topless but I was working on a scene with Dwayne Johnson. The professionalism of the cast and crew eased my nerves. Terrell Suggs was also so much fun to work with. He made it really easy for me.

Q: Did you have to do a lot of takes? Was it a long process or did it go quick?
A: We were on the 16th hour of the last day of shooting for that episode so everyone was pretty tired. We did the scene fairly quickly – maybe 4 or 5 takes. It was the last scene that we shot for the episode so I think everyone was ready for a break.

Q: What was it like working with Terrell Suggs? Was it awkward or did it feel comfortable?
A: He is a big teddy bear and I loved it. We just joked around about it to make us both feel comfortable with one another.

Q: He wasn’t really naked under that shirt, was he?
A: Almost but not quite.

Q: Did you get to meet The Rock before shooting the scene? What was he like on the set?
A: I did. I was on set for a couple of days and had a number of conversations with him. He is the sweetest, most charismatic, professional person I have ever met. I was star struck at first but after about 15 seconds, I got over it. He was super easy to talk with. We are both dog people so we swapped doggie stories with one another. He made me feel extremely comfortable on set.

Q: Any fun anecdotes you could tell from your day on the set?
A: I’m a petite woman and I never felt so tiny being around all those football players. 🙂

Q: Would you do any more naked scenes in the future or does it feel like you’ve “been there done that” sorta thing?
A: If the role calls for it, I would definitely consider it. 🙂

Q: What’s next for you?
A: I start shooting a horror movie based off of Pokemon Go! next week that I play the lead in. I read the script and fell absolutely in love with it. It’s by the same production company that produced “Bubba the Redneck Werewolf” (And You Films). I was not in that but love that movie so am super excited to be working with them. It should be a lot of fun!