X-MEN - COSTUME BLUES FOR ROMIJN.STAMOS

Model-turned-actress REBECCA ROMIJN-STAMOS is grateful for her improved flesh-revealing costume in the forthcoming X-MEN sequel - but only barely.

Romijn-Stamos - who returns as MYSTIQUE in X2 - says, "Its a glorified bikini, is what it is. But the effect is I'm naked, and I've been in denial about that since day one.

"They got it down from eight hours a day to five, I didn't have to wear contact lenses and it wasn't as toxic. It literally made me ill the first time."

Thankfully for Rebecca, she found sympathy from fellow blue mutant ALAN CUMMINGS while filming the sequel.

She adds, "We got to hang out a lot and bitch and moan. I got really good at feeling sorry for myself."