Carey Mulligan Says She'd Rather Go Naked Than Sing in a Movie (But She Does Both!)

Actress opens up about going full frontal in Shame

Carey Mulligan not only sings in her new movie Shame, but she also goes full frontal.

Oddly enough, the Oscar-nominated actress had an easier time stripping down than belting out "New York, New York."

We'll let her explain...

"It's scarier to sing than to do nudity," the British beauty, 26, told me at the Hollywood Film Awards. "Singing is like really exposing yourself. I was playing sort of a singer, so I was pretending to have a talent I don't necessarily believe I have. So singing was quite scary."

Directed by Steve McQueen, Shame centers on Brandon (Michael Fassbender), a sex addict whose troubled sister Sissy (Mulligan) comes to live with him in New York City.

Mulligan, no surprise, wasn't exactly seeking out the opportunity to show all for the cameras. "I've never felt it was appropriate with any other characters I've played so I've never done it," she said. "And I've never enjoyed the prospect of it either.

"But it's so her," she continued. "It was so exactly who she is, so it felt right."

Fassbender has several scenes that include full nudity. Just yesterday, the film was given an NC-17 rating.

"It's a film for grownups," Mulligan said. "Steve doesn't really make sort of family films. He wanted to make a film about real people and talk about things people don't like to talk about and that make them feel uncomfortable. I congratulate him for it."