Charlize Theron - Modest Actress Charlize Theron

Charlize Theron is not "an exhibitionist".

The 'Burning Plain' actress - who appears naked in the first scene of the movie, and has also stripped off in 'Monster' and 'The Devil's Advocate' - insists she only flashes flesh on film if it is integral to the storyline.

She explained: "I'm not some exhibitionist. I think people think I just love walking around naked.

"When you start making it about yourself, you stand in the way of doing your job. I have to sit in an editing room with the director and a bunch of execs, and if I had to sit there and think about myself and these men watching me, I think that would make me insecure. I'm just like every other girl out there. I would cringe."

The 34-year-old actress added making 'The Burning Plain' - in which she stars as Sylvia, a woman who found out her mother was having an affair when she was a teenager - made her think about her own upbringing.

Charlize's parents had a turbulent relationship, culminating in her father being shot dead by her mother after he attacked her when Charlize was 15.

She told the USA Today newspaper: "I looked at my parents and I was so judgmental, and you don't understand the struggles of what it is to be in a marriage and be committed and raise children and to be part of a family.

"Their marriage wasn't great. As a child, you see things very differently, and then I got older and I went, 'Wow, that's amazing.' You start going out with a couple of boys, and some of them aren't so nice. There's a lot more that plays into this whole relationship thing than you think."