Christina Ricci's weighty role

May 9, 2007, 7:00 GMT

05/07/2007 - Christina Ricci - Poiret, King of Fashion - Costume Institute Gala at The Metropolitan Museum of Art - Arrivals - Metropolitan Museum of Art - New York City, NY © Janet Mayer / Photorazzi

Christina Ricci has blamed her dramatic weight loss on her latest film.

The once-curvy star, who looks gaunt in new movie 'Black Snake Moan', insists she wanted to look "unhealthy" for her role as nymphomaniac Rae.

Christina said: "When I did 'Ice Storm' and 'The Opposite of Sex', I was fifteen and sixteen. Realistically women do change a lot so I just lost my baby fat.

"As I have gotten older, I am starting to look more like my mother. But in this film, she is someone that doesn't take care of herself and I wanted her to look like that. I wanted her to look unhealthy."

In 'Black Snake Moan' Christina's character is kidnapped by a blues-playing preacher played by Samuel L. Jackson.

She is then chained to a radiator while the preacher tries to persuade her to tame her wild ways.

But Christina, 27, insists she didn't find the experience uncomfortable - even though she spent hours in her underwear filming the disturbing scenes.

She joked: "I was in my underwear so I was fine.

"Being chained up wasn't that bad. There are moments when I am wrangling the chain and the chain is causing me to be irritated. It provides insight into her character when she is alone with it.

"It didn't really hurt. I was careful."

(C) BANG Media International