Kate Winslet has revealed how royal photographer Mario Testino convinced her to strip off for a recent photo shoot.
The 35-year-old actress has posed nude several times in her career, but dislikes it because she is insecure about her body. When Mario asked her to bare all late last year, Kate says she just couldn't say no.
"You know that his biggest strength without fail is making women look beautiful," Kate said as she presented the renowned photographer with a lifetime achievement award at the El Museo del Barrio gala in New York City last week.
"When Mario turns to you and says, 'It's beautiful, but I think it would work better naked, no?' How can one refuse?"
Kate has spoken extensively of her body image issues in the past. She says she spends most of her time in front of the camera thinking about her flaws — but Mario has the power to make all her anxiety melt away.
"No matter what insecurities about oneself a subject may have, Mario makes them go away like a magician," Kate told the audience.
"One moment you are in the hair and makeup chair fully-clothed and wishing you had smoother skin, longer legs and smaller feet and then Mario comes in and in that charming way he takes you by the hand and says, 'Don't worry it's going to be amazing.'"
Mario's naked photographs of Kate will appear in his Todo o Nada exhibition, which will open in Rome in July. The photographer, who took Prince William and Catherine Middleton's recent engagement pictures, was thrilled to accept the award from Kate, and spoke about why he thinks famous women are happy to disrobe for him.
"I said to her, I want you to pose nude for this exhibition," Mario said of Kate.
"And she was like, 'Oh, OK, Mario.' She said yes right away. Most of them I think trust me. I would never let them down."
Your say: Why do you think so many stars are willing to strip off for Mario Testino?
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