25. Rosario Dawson – Alexander, Trance

Rosario Dawson plays the role of Roxana, a Bactrian princess who is married to Alexander the Great at a very young age. This historical film highlights the key moments of the youth of the King of Macedonia, his victorious invasion of the Persian Empire, Asia Minor, Egypt, and Ancient India. The film details Alexander’s plans to reform his empire and find the ends of his known world.

Tragedy is assured in this historical drama which follows Roxana through her complex relationships with her mighty king husband and his friend. Nothing good ever happens when a king dies leaving his wives and children to face his nemesis. This is one storyline that doesn’t need to rely on sensationalizing the intimate moments of the movie, because there are so many intelligent facets of the plot, and history that merits the viewer’s attention as well. Dawson has an impressive listing of professional acting projects and awards, so her decision to take the role of Roxana shows the depth of her motivations.

Dawson also lost her clothes in the Danny Boyle directed Trance. In the psychological thriller Dawson has a scene where she had to go full frontal for the cameras. The actress spoke to Marie Claire about how awkward it can be on set to film such intense scenes:

‘EVERYONE [ON SET] IS AVERTING THEIR EYES, YOUR WARDROBE FOR THE DAY IS NOTHING, THERE’S JUST A ROBE IN YOUR DRESSING ROBE. YOU’RE LOOKING OVER AT YOUR LEAD ACTOR [JAMES MCAVOY] WHO ALWAYS LOOKS YOU IN THE EYE WHEN YOU’RE DOING THESE REMARKABLE SCENES BUT FOR TODAY HE’S LOOKING AT YOUR SHOULDER OR AT THE SPOT ON THE WALL FAR AWAY SO AS NOT TO BE INAPPROPRIATE.’