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Actress rejects gratuitous nudity; says it's unnecessary

We haven't seen the new movie ''How Stella Got Her Groove Back'' and we have no idea whether it's a film worth seeing. But we do know that one of its stars, Angela Bassett, deserves a standing ovation.

Bassett was asked to perform nude for some scenes in the movie. That's not uncommon - but it also isn't something Bassett would do. She refused to take it all off in front of the cameras.

As film fans know, nudity certainly isn't uncommon in modern movies. More than a few of Tinseltown's top names, both female and male, have performed in their birthday suits. It's no big deal in Hollywood. Some stars and starlets actually believe it is something they have to do if they are to establish their credentials as top draws.

None of that mattered to Bassett when she was asked to perform nude. ''It's just not necessary,'' she told a newspaper.

Indeed, it isn't. Most nudity in modern movies is for its own sake, not because it is needed to tell a story. Naked bodies have become so common on the silver screen that they simply don't have any impact.

Bassett was courageous enough to draw a line that will endear her to parents sick of the fare being offered to youngsters - and to other adults who simply long for more creativity and less gratuitous sex and violence in films.

Bravo, Ms. Bassett!