Britt Ekland's Wicker Man body double hits out at 'ridiculous' trigger warning about her infamous nude scene
She famously stripped off to play superstar Britt Ekland’s body double in what is widely regarded as one of the greatest cult horror movies ever made.
But audiences never got to see her face, for Jane Jackson was only ever filmed from behind as she danced naked as the Swedish actress’s character seduced a policeman in the 1973 classic, The Wicker Man.
Now the 78-year-old Scot is horrified to learn that more than half a century on from landing the role, university bosses have slapped a trigger warning on the scene for fear the ‘depiction of nudity’ will be too much for students.
The movie is included in the syllabus for a master’s degree in folklore at the University of Herefordshire in England.
But students are being given the option to view an alternative film should they have any ‘concerns about watching it’.
Mrs Jackson, who caught the eye of producers when she and a friend turned up to watch the film being shot in Kirkcudbright, Dumfries and Galloway, last night branded the decision ‘ridiculous’.
She said: ‘It’s a long time ago that it was made. At the time it was considered quite risque but I don’t think it is anything that’s ever been complained about. It wasn’t at all shocking, there wasn’t that much nudity in it.
‘I’m sure none of the students would ever think of it as shocking. It’s just everyone seems to have an opinion about everything these days.
Jayne Jackson, who was Britt Ekland's body double in The Wicker Man, has criticised a trigger warning on the scene for fear the ‘depiction of nudity’ will be too much for students
Jayne Jackson stood in for Britt Ekland for a nude scene in The Wicker Man
'It’s ridiculous, the whole thing has gotten out of hand. It’s just stupid... unless someone has made another film of it and it’s a lot different.’
She added: ‘I can only think of two scenes containing nudity and one was from the back and the other was in the bath and you don’t see much.
‘He [the policeman] gets burned at the end - that is much more disturbing than any of the nudity.
‘My goodness, if you think of some of the films now. It’s absolute nonsense and I’m sure everyone in the film would say the same and anyone who has got anything to do with films.’
A number of the scenes were shot just a few miles from where she lived in Castle Douglas at the time and she said it became incredibly popular in America, with fans of the cult horror still visiting the film location in Kirkcudbright to this day.
She said: ‘And I think Americans are much more likely to be offended than the British are.’
Ms Ekland, 82, has also blasted the trigger warning, saying: ‘I have never ever had a comment saying “you disturbed me for the rest of my life”.
‘I doubt any young person in their 20s will be shocked or dismayed or unable to function for the rest of the day, or the week or the month because they are watching The Wicker Man with one minute of me nude.’
1973 Horror classic The Wicker Man was filmed in Kirkcudbright
Hollywood actress Britt Ekland in 1975
The Wicker Man, which also stars Sir Christopher Lee and Edward Woodward, was X-rated when first released, but it was downgraded as suitable for those aged 15 or over when it was re-released for home viewing in 2002.
Hertfordshire students, however, have been told they do not have to watch it if they are concerned about its depiction of ‘nudity, sex and violence’.
The Wicker Man tells the story of police officer Sergeant Neil Howie, played by Woodward, who arrives on the remote Scottish island of Summerisle to hunt for a missing schoolgirl.
A devout Christian, he is stunned to discover that the island’s residents are pagan worshippers who take part in sexualised fertility rituals.
In one scene, Ms Ekland, who stars as publican’s daughter Willow MacGregor, drives the hapless police officer to distraction when she sings a seductive song while dancing around her bedroom naked.
It was this scene that Mrs Jackson was brought in to act as the star’s body double.
Details of the university’s warning, which is issued to students taking part in a workshop called Folklore On The Big Screen, were obtained under freedom of information laws.
A University of Hertfordshire spokesman said: ‘The wellbeing of our students will always be our utmost priority.
‘It was following requests by students that we added a content warning to our screenings of The Wicker Man and an option to opt out of watching it if preferred.
‘As yet, no student has opted out of viewing it.’
