Mum urged Slumdog's Dev to get naked in Skins

Dev Patel's mother urged him to get naked for his big break into stardom.

Dev is currently winning plaudits for his lead role in hit film Slumdog Millionaire, but Anita Patel, 45, said her 18-year-old son was nervous about baring all for his breakthrough role in Channel 4 teen drama Skins.

"He was apprehensive when he found out he'd have to appear naked," she told Woman's Own magazine.

But Anita said she did not mind him appearing nude in the show, which features frequent storylines about sex and drugs.

"He said, 'Oh God I am going to have to show my bum!' I told him, 'It's only a bum, you've seen lots of people's bums before'."

Dev Patel began his acting career in late 2006, when he played Anwar Kharral in the E4 teen drama series.

Mrs Patel said her son, who will go head-to-head with Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Sean Penn and Mickey Rourke for the best actor prize at Sunday's Baftas, is still an ordinary teenager at home.

"I can't believe Dev is being compared to Brad Pitt," she said. "It's unreal. At home Dev has to help with the chores, do the vacuuming and clean his room. He is so messy, I always have to nag him. He's not perfect."

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