The Real Reason Samuel L. Jackson Won't Do A Nude Scene

Samuel L. Jackson is the consummate badass. We've seen him battle snakes on planes, play a supervillain in "Unbreakable" and "Glass", and vanquish villains as a hero in countless other films. One thing we haven't seen is — wait for it — the 70-year-old's naughty bits. If you Google "Samuel L. Jackson nude," which we assume plenty of ladies and gents have done, all you'll find is a glimpse of the actor's derriere from the 1998 science fiction movie "Sphere". 

So, Jackson apparently doesn't mind showing off his ... rear assets, but he's never been on board with going the full monty, so to speak. In fact, you won't find a Samuel L. Jackson movie in which he appears completely in the buff, and he says that won't change anytime soon. 

The reason Samuel L. Jackson won't do a nude scene? Well, for starters, it's just downright uncomfortable. 

Samuel L. Jackson may be 70 years old, but he's still got sex appeal. That doesn't mean that doing a love scene in a movie is something he looks forward to. Perhaps part of the reason Jackson won't bear it all when engaging in some on-screen intimacy is that he finds it totally awkward. According to Fox News, the Oscar-nominated actor thinks the whole scenario is a no-win situation. "For me as an actor, I don't know how to do that sort of thing in a room full of people, and I tend to ask a lot of questions," Jackson told the outlet's entertainment column Pop Tarts. He added, "Where can I touch you? Where can I not touch you? I'm sorry if I get excited, I'm sorry if I don't ..." 

Nevertheless, Jackson has filmed a few steamy romps throughout his long Hollywood career. But he also has another, even more personal reason he won't do fully nude scenes, and it has everything to do with vanity. 

In January 2016, Samuel L. Jackson told Howard Stern that he won't do a nude scene because he's concerned that he might not be big enough. Stern asked Jackson whether he'd show his manly bits on the big screen and Jackson replied, "I might ask for a d**k double." 

Of course Stern pressed the issue, asking Jackson, "You feel your penis isn't big enough to really show off on camera?" That's when Jackson finally came clean about the real reason he won't do a nude scene. He told Stern, "I don't know if it's... yeah," Jackson dished, "I don't know if it's formidable enough. My aura's so big in films that I don't know if my d**k is big enough to fill my aura."

So, you won't find a pic of Samuel L. Jackson in the buff out there on the internet, but happy hunting if that's what you're into! 

Another reason Samuel L. Jackson isn't too keen on nude scenes is that he got an injury while filming. In 2013, the actor and producer joked that a shoulder injury that he sustained while doing a scene for the film "Big Game" caused him to think twice about doing nude scenes in future movies. "When I landed on my shoulder, the ligaments which hold the clavicle down snapped and my clavicle jumped up... So yeah all my topless, naked, nude scenes are done now," Jackson quipped, per Business Standard. 

All kidding aside, Business Standard reported that Jackson received the shoulder injury after being "thrown out of a helicopter from a staggering height" — not to mention that at the time of the shoot, Jackson was 64 years old! Despite the fact that Jackson was trying to keep healthy and following a strict vegan diet at the time, it's safe to say that getting thrown out of helicopters is not healthy for anyone, much less an actor in his 60s.

At 72, Samuel L. Jackson has earned the right to refuse nude scenes — and do pretty much whatever he wants. With a career that has spanned four decades, Jackson has appeared in over 100 films, per IMDb. The iconic actor will finally get an honorary Oscar in 2022. The Los Angeles Times reported Jackson will be joined by Elanie May and Liv Ullman will receive honorary Oscars in January 2022 at the 12th Governors Awards. The 2020 Governors Awards were canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences President David Rubin said in a statement that he was "thrilled to present" Jackson with the award, explaining that "Sam Jackson is a cultural icon whose dynamic work has resonated across genres and generations and audiences worldwide."  In 1995, Jackson was nominated for a best supporting actor Oscar for his work in "Pulp Fiction," as Jules Winnfield, the scripture quoting hitman. Though Jackson lost out to Martin Landau for his work in "Ed Wood," Jackson's work in "Pulp Fiction" remains one of the iconic roles in American film. He has certainly made his impact on the movie industry, with or without a competitive Oscar — or a nude scene.