Kate Walsh Gets Naked For Shape And Looks Amazing

Full disclosure: actor and activist Kate Walsh is probably one of my favorite people on television. The 44-year-old Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy star is tall, fit–and she’s never gone under the knife. And, she says in this month’s Shape magazine, she feels confident in her appearance…which is why she wanted to do a nude cover. For herself. Which is awesome. But then, I think everything she does is awesome.

Frequently, women in Hollywood are pressured into overly-sexualized nude shoots to prove something to others–that they look great after having a baby, that they haven’t had any work done, or, more recently, that they’re real people and that, without re-touching, they look just like everyone else.

It’s less often, though, that we read about a super-talented actor like Kate Walsh who’s doing it for herself, because she wants to, and because she’s “enjoying my 40s and wanted to share that.” From Shape:

I was terrified, but I really wanted to do a naked cover—especially with SHAPE, because the magazine is about loving yourself inside and out.

But Walsh does have one thing to prove: that plastic surgery isn’t a requirement for women in their 40s. The former model, known for her wry wit and political activism (she’s an advocate for Planned Parenthood, opened a canine rescue shelter, campaigned for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign, and is a vocal supporter of environmental conservation) isn’t shy about saying what she feels about the expectation of cosmetic surgery for women in the media. Here’s something else she told Shape:

We live in a strange time when getting plastic surgery is as common as dyeing your hair. But in my profession, I need a malleable face.

Some women may take issue with Walsh’s desire to strip down to express body-positivity and confidence, but I like it. It’s not super-sexualized, it doesn’t take away from her activism or her talent as an actor, and if it makes her feel awesome, then I think it’s inspiring.

Image: Shape