How Getting Naked in 'Westworld' Made Thandie Newton Even mais of an Activist 

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Thandie Newton could be forgiven for freaking out when she was first handed the details of her

"They said, \'So, you\'re going to play a madam in a brothel and you\'re going to do a lot of it naked. Is that cool with you?\' she told audience members at the Paleyfest Q&A in Los Angeles. "I said, \'Do you know that I fight violence against women? That\'s what I do in my spare time. You know, I like to feel that it\'s not gratuitous, being without clothes on.\'"

Playing Maeve Millay, a (mostly naked) robot \'host\' in the HBO show about a fantasy theme park, might have seemed challenging enough for anyone. But given Newton\'s passionate activism it might have been even less of a viable choice for the actress. But then she saw how the show cleverly empowered her character and others, like Evan Rachel Wood\'s Dolores, who suffer violence and oppression.

"They told me the reason why the set-up had to be as extreme as it is," Newton said. "The point we\'re trying to make is: Look where we are, and is there a way out from here? So I was just thrilled with excitement, with where the show could not only take us as actors, but the audience, and—it\'s hyperbolic—but the world." Hinting at the current political climate, she added, "Here we are right now at a crossroads, and

, for me anyway, is going to be part of the solution, not the problem, and that\'s the exciting thing about playing this character."

Unfortunately, not every role on offer is as complex and satisfying, Newton said. But the

role actually ended up being a perfect blend of both Newton\'s on-screen acting work and her off-screen drive to empower women. "With roles for women, it\'s tough out there, and very often I feel like I have to put my activism behind when I go to work. I have to just be the actor and do what I have to do. I was an activist every single day I went to work [on

]. I felt part of the solution every single day."

With Season 2 slated for next year, we have a while to wait for the next installment. Sadly, Newton wasn\'t giving us any clues. She said she has "no idea" what\'s coming up. "Rather than expending energy trying to imagine what it\'s going to be, I\'m just chilling right now."

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