Ashley Park is opening up about the challenges of shooting topless for season 4, episode 8 of Emily in Paris. The 33-year-old actress recently revealed how stressful the experience was.
At a press conference in Rome on September 10, Park described the scene as “every actor’s worst nightmare.” In the episode, Mindy agrees to perform at the legendary cabaret to raise money for her band’s Eurovision Song Contest bid. The gig comes with a catch, however – the venue is known for its nude dancers.
“We have this recurring memory of being on stage in your underwear and not knowing what you’re doing,” Park explained. “And that’s exactly what I experienced, but all around me were the most beautiful dancers in the world.”
The Beef star admitted that the scene took a toll on her. “It was so stressful and so hard to do,” she told People. Park thanked choreographer Kyle Hanagami and her support team for helping her persevere. “Without the choreographer… I don’t think I could have done it.”
In the episode, Mindy’s nerves are clearly visible on stage. Her singing voice breaks during rehearsals when she has to take off her clothes. During the performance, however, she finds a creative solution: she covers herself with various handbags thrown to her by her best friend Emily (played by Lily Collins) while dancing to Britney Spears’ “Oops!… I Did It Again.”
Looking back, Park is proud of her performance. “It’s an experience as an actress that I will never forget,” she said.
Park also revealed details about another touching moment from Season 4: a singing scene in Rome in which her character sings an original ballad called “Beautiful Ruins.” In the final episode, Mindy writes the song spontaneously after being inspired by a late-night conversation with Emily in the city’s historic piazzas.
“The last song in Rome is special because it was original,” Park said. She praised songwriter Freddy Wexler for bringing authenticity to the piece, adding, “He did such a wonderful job of infusing what felt like truth in my life into what was happening to the character.”
