Alexandra Daddario’s profile grew exponentially after a nude scene in True Detective, and her feelings about her role may come as a surprise. Daddario’s film career broke out with her role as Annabeth Chase in the Percy Jackson film series, but her filmography is marked by a variety of complex roles that showcase her range as a dramatic and empowering actress. From comedies like Baywatch to satirical dramas like The White Lotus, Daddario has demonstrated an ability to bring characters to life with a unique blend of vulnerability and authenticity.

True Detective stands as a beacon of high-quality television drama, and was Daddario’s true breakthrough project. In the critically acclaimed crime thriller series, Daddario portrayed Lisa Tragnetti, Marty Hart’s (Woody Harrelson) mistress, and her character left a lasting impression on the audience for her complexity, and the then-newcomer delivered a magnetic and nuanced performance. However, the Alexandra Daddario True Detective role required the actor to navigate challenging scenes, including a notable nude scene. In the time since, Daddario has reflected back on the scene in a way that not everyone would expect.

Alexandra Daddario Said That Her True Detective Nude Scene Was Good For Her Career

The Star Has No Regrets About Her Nudity In True Detective

Some actresses look back on their nude scenes early in their careers as exploitative, but Daddario looks at the experience in a different light. The much-discussed nude scene featuring the Alexandra Daddario True Detective character stands as a significant point in her career. In her own words, the scene was a turning point, opening new doors for Daddario and bringing her talent to a wider audience (via Men’s Journal). Daddario’s perspective on the scene is refreshingly candid. She admits to not being fully aware of her sex appeal prior to True Detective and how this realization influenced her career choices thereafter.

Her approach to this scene was not trivial; it was a calculated and thoughtful decision, showcasing a sense of control and agency over her career choices. Read Daddario’s full comment on the nude scene below:

I have a lot of thoughts on this topic, but for example, 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. I tried not to take it too seriously. I really love acting, in my heart I’m just a theater nerd, and I sort of took that and said, ‘This is good for my career,’ and embraced it.

Daddario’s White Lotus Character Rachel Used Her Sexuality In A Different Way

The True Detective Star Tapped Into Similar Skills For The Anthology Drama

Alexandra Daddario’s portrayal of Rachel in The White Lotus cast, a journalist grappling with her identity and relationship dynamics, offered another nuanced examination of a character’s use of sexuality. Unlike her role in True Detective, Rachel’s character in The White Lotus presents a different facet of Daddario’s ability to interpret and express complex female characters, particularly in a scene in which Rachel silences two rude teenage girls by stripping down to her bathing suit.

Rachel’s journey through self-discovery and empowerment is intricately woven into the narrative, as she attempts to become untethered from her husband, Shane (Jake Lacy), who tries to control her with his wealth. Daddario’s interpretation of Rachel is a testament to her versatility and understanding of the diverse ways women can be portrayed on screen. Another quote from Daddario’s Men’s Journal interview further highlights how she uses her positive approach. The actor commented,

” I really love what I do. I happen to have a lot of fun with getting dressed up and playing roles, and even on red carpets, I’m kind of playing a role. And it’s great… “

This underscores Alexandra Daddario’s method to her profession — one that is grounded in a love for acting, while also being mindful of the challenges and complexities that come with it.

True Detective Was A Breakthrough Moment For Alexandra Daddario

The Difference In Daddario’s Bookings After True Detective Is Noticable

Looking back at her wider filmography, Alexandra Daddario was right in her assessment that the nude True Detective scene, and the role and starring in the show in general, was a good move for her career. Prior to appearing in True Detective, Daddario’s most prominent roles had been as Annabeth in the often Maligned Percy Jackson movies, and in Texas Chainsaw 3D as Heather (a movie that was equally considered something of a flop).

Appearing in True Detective allowed Daddario to show just what she was capable of — a feat she would have accomplished with or without the nudity. While she also appeared in some movies that didn’t do particularly well critically, such a 2015’s San Andreas, 2018’s Rampage and the 2017 Baywatch movie, these roles were all for blockbuster projects. They were all anticipated to do much better than they did, so the fact that Aleandra Daddario still made the cast list is still an impressive achievement.

However, it’s on the small screen that the benefits of Alexandra Daddario’s appearance in True Detective can really be felt. She landed roles in American Story: Hotel and The Last Man on Earth the following year. Moving forward, in 2019 she starred in the acclaimed Why Women Kill and, of course, The White Lotus in 2021.

She also starred as Dr. Rowan Fielding in 2023’s Mayfair Witches, a role she’s set to reprise in season 2. All in all, it’s clear that the True Detective star made the right move by dedicating herself to the role of Lisa, and the nude scene showed Alexandra Daddario’s dedication to a part that in all likelihood helped put her career on its current upward trajectory.

Other Stars Who Broke Out After A Famous Nude Scene

Alexandra Daddario Isn’t The Only Star Who Saw A Career Boost After A Steamy Moment

Alexandra Daddario is open about the fact her nude scene in True Detective boosted her career, and the star doesn’t regret moving her career in a direction that had viewers seeing more of her skin. However, she’s not the only actor whose career advanced in part due to a scene that saw them unclothed. There are multiple Hollywood stars, both men and women, who found interest in them skyrocketed due to some noteworthy and conversation-starting naked scenes.

One of the most recent examples is Sydney Sweeney. Sweeney played Cassie in the hit HBO show Euphoria, which required a great deal of nudity from the eventual star of movies like Immaculate and Madame Webb. While Sydney Sweeney’s overall performance as Cassie is what secured her future work, the level of nudity in Euphoria, from Sweeney and otherwise, was a talking point that drew many viewers toward the show due to its supposed shocking content.

This hype, and how Sweeney herself contributed to it with her naked Euphoria scenes, put no shortage of eyes on the show and, by extension, the actor herself. For her part, Sydney Sweeney remains open about having no regrets when it comes to Euphoria, much like Alexandra Daddario with True Detective. There are other examples too, and just as many come from movies as they do the small screen.

Two widely-known cases of movie actors who received a career boost from a nude scene are Kate Winslet and Margot Robbie. While decades apart, both Winslet and Robbie had nude scenes early on in their careers, in 1997’s Titanic and 2013’s The Wolf of Wall Street respectively, that helped bring them into the spotlight. Both received acclaim for their performances in said movies regardless of the moments they were naked, but their talent and ability as actors to use their sensuality as a tool in said scenes were positively highlighted by many critics.

It’s not only female actors who have managed to harness the talking point nudity becomes like Alexandra Daddario in True Detective, either. One of the earliest movies in the career of Ewan McGregor was 1996’s Trainspotting, in which he played heroin addict Mark Renton. The movie featured plenty of full-frontal nudity from McGregor, and this itself was one of several talking points surrounding the controversial film that helped put that actor’s name in the spotlight.