Jessica Alba speaks openly about discomfort over her full-nudity scene in Fantastic Four

The fifth edition of the Red Sea International Film Festival is currently underway in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. On the festival’s second day, Hollywood actress Jessica Alba appeared for a conversation about her career, where she recalled one of the most uncomfortable experiences of her acting life.

Alba spoke about her role as Sue Storm in the 2005 Marvel film Fantastic Four, directed by Tim Story. She revealed that a scene in which Sue Storm appears fully naked on a bridge remains the most disliked and distressing moment of her career. According to her, filming that particular scene caused her genuine discomfort in real life.

She explained that she grew up in a conservative family and has always been a reserved person, which made the scene especially difficult. Alba said the memory of that moment troubled her for a long time and still affects her emotionally. However, she maintains a deep fondness for the character Sue Storm despite the discomfort she experienced.

Alba added that Sue Storm stood out from the stereotypical female portrayals seen in superhero and action films of that era. While many female characters were presented as people needing rescue or existing merely to support the male narrative, Sue Storm broke those traditional gender moulds.

Describing the character, she said Sue was nurturing and kind but also strong, firm, and morally grounded. Alba stated that she admired Sue’s ability to express herself clearly and hold strong convictions at a time when such dimensions in female characters were rare.

The actress also shared that she is working on a new project directed by Dakota Johnson titled A Tree Is Blue. The film features British singer Charli XCX and actress Vanessa Burghardt alongside her. According to Alba, the film explores the emotional tension between a mother and daughter over personal freedom. If everything goes as planned, she hopes the film will premiere at the next Red Sea Festival.

Alba has recently launched her own production company, Lady Metalmark Entertainment. She aims to bring diverse stories to the forefront of Hollywood. Reflecting on her own upbringing, she said she grew up in a period when diversity on screen was limited. She noted that storytelling was largely dominated by white men who were more comfortable narrating from their own perspectives.

She further stated that although women are still underrepresented in leadership roles, the belief that women-led stories are only for women is a misconception. Alba pointed out that women control more than 70 per cent of household spending and that diverse narratives deserve equal creative space. She highlighted that Latino audiences in the United States are among the most ardent supporters of entertainment.

Based on Variety

Khaborwala/ASN