Jack Thompson has stood by the nude photoshoot that catapulted him to massive fame back in the 1970s.
Thompson took up the controversial offer to be Cleo magazine's first naked centrefold in 1972.
It was a wise move that spring-boarded his budding actor's career to heartthrob status.
Thompson was reportedly paid just $400 to strip off - but the honour meant a lot more to the actor.
'It was the first nude centrefold in an Australian magazine. Nudity was never a taboo thing in our family household. the 84-year-old told Seven Spotlight on Sunday.
When asked by host Michael Usher if he was making a political statement, Thompson agreed he was.
'Yes, it was. That's the first person who's ever said that, too, but it was' the actor said.
There was outrage and awe over the centrefold at the time - but Jack said he knew what he was getting into.
Jack Thompson (pictured) has stood by the nude photoshoot that catapulted him to massive fame back in the 1970s
Thompson took up the controversial offer to be Cleo magazine's first naked centrefold in 1972
'I wasn't surprised by the reaction to it. I knew the country I'd grown up in' he said with a laugh.
Thompson previously told the Daily Telegraph that the gig spoke to his hippy sensibilities.
'On the part of Ita Buttrose and the magazine and myself at the time, it was an important thing to say, that nudity wasn't a crime' he said.
'Eighteen months before that, the play The Boys In The Band was closed down because there was nudity onstage.
When asked by host Michael Usher if he was making a political statement, Thompson agreed he was. 'Yes, it was. That's the first person who's ever said that, too, but it was' the actor said
There was outrage and awe over the centrefold at the time - but Jack said he knew what he was getting into. 'I wasn't surprised by the reaction to it. I knew the country I'd grown up in' he said
'And less than six months before it came out, they blocked the entrance to the theatre for the musical Hair' Jack continued.
'It was at a time when that was a social issue.'
Thompson was actually not the first choice for the spread - Phil Avalon was approached prior.
Avalon was a successful model when the Packer Empire came calling, with an offer for him to appear nude in a new magazine for women.
His agent told him it would be worth up to $5000 and 'your privates won't be exposed'.
Avalon happily agreed to go through with it but when the publication came back with a budget of just $400 they said no to the Packer publication - and the rest is history.
