Years after Skins took the TV world by storm, actress April Pearson, now 35, is still coming to terms with her experience on the show, particularly regarding the nude scenes she filmed as a teenager.
Pearson played Michelle in the popular E4 series, which followed a group of wild and carefree sixth formers in Bristol.
Although she starred alongside famous names like Nicholas Hoult and Dev Patel, her time on set wasn’t always as glamorous as it seemed.
Reflecting on a Difficult Experience
During a recent TikTok Q&A, April responded to a fan’s question about whether the actors were truly required to get naked for certain scenes.
Her response was frank: “Yes and yes.” She went on to explain that the experience felt strange and unpleasant at times.
This isn’t the first time April has spoken about the challenges she faced while filming Skins.
In previous interviews and on her podcast, Are You Michelle From Skins?, she admitted to not feeling adequately protected during her time on the show.
“At the time, you’re young, and you don’t know any better,” she reflected.
The Weight of Trauma
April has since come to understand that what she experienced as a teenager was more than just discomfort.
“There’s a difference between being officially old enough and mentally old enough,” she shared in a candid conversation.
At 17, she felt she wasn’t mentally prepared for what was expected of her on set.
The lack of protection and guidance left her with a lingering sense of unease.
“I feel like I was too young, and I wasn’t protected.”
April isn’t the only cast member who has spoken out about these issues. Fellow actress Laya Lewis, who portrayed Liv Malone in later seasons of Skins, also shared her experiences.
Laya, who was 18 when she joined the show, reflected on how overwhelming the demands of certain scenes were.
“It was just a bit much to be bang, day one, here you are.”
A Shared Experience Among the Cast
Both April and Laya have stated that they aren’t alone in feeling the aftereffects of their time on Skins.
According to April, several cast members—both male and female—have shared similar sentiments about the pressure and discomfort they experienced during filming.
She emphasized that the industry has since evolved, noting that intimacy coordinators are now standard for scenes involving nudity or sexual content.
“Nowadays, you have an intimacy coordinator for nude, intimate scenes.
That just simply wasn’t a thing back then.”
Kaya Scodelario, who played the iconic character Effy Stonem, also echoed these concerns.
In an interview on the Dish podcast, Kaya revealed that there was no safeguarding for the young actors at the time.
“There wasn’t anyone checking if we were okay,” she admitted, reflecting on the lack of support available during the intense filming process.
Writers Respond to Cast Concerns
Following these revelations, the writers of Skins have issued an apology, expressing regret over the experiences some cast members had on set.
The statement reads: “We’re deeply and unambiguously sorry that any cast member was made to feel uncomfortable or inadequately respected in their work during their time on Skins.”
As more actors come forward to share their stories, the industry continues to reflect on past practices and move towards safer, more supportive working environments for young performers.
What’s Next?
With former cast members opening up about their experiences, the impact of Skins continues to be a subject of discussion.
While Pearson and others are still working through the effects of their time on the show, their stories are shedding light on the importance of safeguarding young actors in today’s film and television industry.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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