'I never saw myself as sexy": Alexandra Daddario opens up about receiving bold roles, on-screen nudity, and more

The White Lotus and Percy Jackson star, Alexandra Daddario, recently opened up about her perception in Hollywood, saying that while she’s often been cast in aggressive and revealing parts, she has never thought of herself as a s*x symbol.

The actress opened up in a candid interview with Social Life Magazine where she stated that stripping down on the big screen had nothing to do with feeling confident or craving attention. On the contrary, she saw it as a normal aspect of storytelling and a way to better relate to her characters.

"It was about the performance. I wasn’t really that aware of what I looked like, other than feeling uncomfortable when men whistled at me on the street. I never thought of myself as sexy. I spent more time hiding my body than showing it," She stated.

Alexandra Daddario, 39, Shares Candid Thoughts on Nude Scenes https://t.co/uUGaEUJnWd

— Parade Mag (@ParadeMagazine) July 11, 2025

According to AOL, Daddario stressed that her naked scenes were emotionally difficult and that they came from a place of vulnerability and not a place of strength, as most assume.

She talked about her growth as an actress and the opportunity she had to experiment with complex emotions and real characters, thanks to a successful career.

“Being naked is part of human nature... If it serves the role, is a great part, and a project I care about then no, it doesn’t bother me to be nude on screen as I get older." Alexandra Daddario added.

A look into Alexandra Daddario's past bold roles as she goes through a dramatic hair transformation

Alexandra Daddario rose to prominence through HBO’s True Detective in 2014, where her explicit scenes drew a lot of attention and got a big breakthrough for her career. 

"When True Detective came out and I was naked on the show, and it was huge for my career and the phone was ringing and I got some work off of it, I think that I hadn’t been that aware of my sex appeal prior to that." She told Men's Journal.

Though the role led to her getting a lot more opportunities in Hollywood, it also saw her being mislabeled in the industry, she admitted.

"I think other people thought about it more than I did," She said in her recent interview.

But despite starring in some of Hollywood's most sensual roles, Alexandra Daddario says she’s just a “theater nerd,” committed to her art rather than adhering to the beauty ideal or making concessions to audience desires (International Business Times).

In addition to her reflection on her acting, Daddario recently shocked fans with a striking hair transformation. After sharing new photos of her bob haircut on Instagram, alongside which she wrote, “Needed a change!!” The understated but stark transformation comes as the actress films her new biographical drama, Harshey, due in 2026.