Sex sells. So it seems an obvious enough promotional ploy to talk about sex while promoting a film that everyone hopes will be a “comeback” for a woman who was once the most in-demand actress in the world. Unfortunately, both Julia Roberts and Clive Owen must have received the wrong memo.

Yesterday, it was reported that Clive told a gossip reporter that sex scenes are “weird and uncomfortable”. Today, The Daily Mail is reporting Julia Reports’ comments on the red carpet of the London premiere of Duplicity. She says, regarding sex scenes that “it’s not really what I do, so if you are going ask me to do it, you have to expect it to be toned down. You know, as a mum of three, I feel like that.” Way to sell a “sexy” movie, folks. The Daily Mail has more:

Hollywood star Julia Roberts has criticised those who choose to do nude scenes in a film – especially if they have children. The Pretty Woman actress, 41, was speaking at the premiere of her film Duplicity at Leicester Square last night.

When asked if she would consider doing a nude scene in a film, she said: ‘You know it’s not really what I do, so if you are going ask me to do it, you have to expect it to be toned down. You know, as a mum of three, I feel like that.’

The original script for Duplicity involved a raunchy sex scene, but Roberts insisted it be toned down. Whether it was intentional or not, Roberts’s comments are a backhander for Oscar-winning actress Kate Winslet, a 33-year-old mother of two. Winslet famously shed her clothes in The Reader, and her natural breasts became a major talking point in the US – even drawing praise from Oprah Winfrey.

Roberts is well known for her aversion to taking her clothes off on camera. She has been quoted in the past as saying: ‘I wouldn’t do nudity in films. To act with my clothes on is a performance. To act with my clothes off is a documentary.’

Last night was a rare public appearance for Roberts, after she snubbed the Oscars ceremony last month, preferring to stay at home with her husband and brood. She failed to show at the London premiere of her last film Charlie Wilson’s War two years ago. In fact Roberts’ last red carpet appearance in London is thought to have been for her 1999 film Notting Hill.

She said of her return to the red carpet: ‘It was terrifying but good to do it again. I put on three different outfits before I decided what to wear tonight. I don’t particularly have the bug to work. I just have the bug to do good movies and they don’t come along very often.’

At the height of her fame, the actress could command £17m per film, but has since explained how her priorities changed after she became a mother.

She said: ‘I never really did years of movie after movie but when you’ve got three toddlers in the house you’re performing all day long anyway with puppet shows and stories. I act around the clock.’

From The Daily Mail

Was Julia Roberts really criticizing Kate Winslet? Or was she criticizing actresses in general who disrobe for a role? In either case, all I can say is, hey, Julia, don’t ruin the fun for everybody! I enjoy a good film sex scene. And I hope that Clive Owen gets more encouragement from other people to film sexier movies.

Julie Roberts is shown with Clive Owen at the London premiere of Duplicity on 3/10/09. Credit: WENN.com