Debra Messing recalls 'Walk in the Clouds' director pressuring her to do naked sex scene, mocking her nose

Debra Messing recently recalled being allegedly belittled and insulted by a director on the set of her first movie, 1995's A Walk in the Clouds.

Speaking at the 2017 Makers conference earlier this week, Messing said she had been told there would be no nude scenes in the film she starred opposite Keanu Reeves. But once she got on set, she heard that there would be one, and she spoke with director Alfonso Arau about it.

Messing said Arau was angered by her questioning his decision and alleges he told her, "Your job is to get naked and say the lines. That's it. You should be grateful to have this part," before instructing her to get out of the room.

While filming the scene, Messing said Arau went up to her and placed a sheet on her. "He lifts it, scans my naked body, then drops the sheet on top of me like a used Kleenex," said Messing. "He walks away without a word."

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The scene ended up just showing Messing's bare back. "The whole thing was a power play, a game," she said. "And the goal: to demean me, to strip me of my power and make me feel on a cellular level his dominance over me."

She said in another scene, he was upset by her nose in a close-up still. She said he exclaimed, "How quickly can we get a plastic surgeon in here? Her nose is ruining my movie!"

Messing said after struggling with the shame she feels he inflicted on her, she's now proud of her body and confident. "I have a strong nose. I have small breasts," said the actress. "I'm a f—ing original. My nose and I have come this far, and like Barbra Streisand, I'm defiantly keeping it."

The Hollywood Reporter has reached out to Alfonso Arau's manager for comment.

Read more: Debra Messing Remembers Being "Starstruck" by Debbie Reynolds on 'Will & Grace' Set