American Pie star who quit Hollywood admits she 'wouldn't have had a career' without nude scene

There are plenty of memorable moments in American Pie, but Shannon Elizabeth's nude scene is one which really stuck in viewers minds.

Although some people might have thought the actress would live to regret going topless in the 1999 teen comedy, it turns out it's one of her biggest triumphs.

She reckons that going nude while taking on the role of exchange student Nadia worked wonders for her career.

Elizabeth has since swapped acting for animal conservation and Hollywood for South Africa, but still reminisces about her iconic role in American Pie fondly.

Somehow, it's been 26 years since the legendary comedy - starring the likes of Jason Biggs, Seann William Scott, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Chris Klein and Jennifer Coolidge - was released.

Biggs, who played Jim, previously admitted the scene where he secretly broadcasts Nadia in a state of undress to the entire school 'wouldn't and couldn't' be made these days.

"It was a very specific time," he told BuzzFeed News. "It was right as the internet was starting. We had that whole scene with the internet camera - which, by the way, would never get made now.

"It would be unacceptable what that represents," Biggs continued. "But at the time, I remember reading the script and reading that part and being shocked that there was cameras on computers.

"That's what I took away from it originally!"

On the other hand, Elizabeth believes stripping off in the film paid off very well for her - and she credits her American Pie character for launching her career in Hollywood.

In 2020, she opened up about the impact starring as Nadia had on her during a documentary titled Skin: A History Of Nudity In The Movies.

Stars such as Malcolm McDowell, Erica Gavin, Cerina Vincent, Rena Riffel and Mariel Hemingway also sat down to discuss their unclothed appearances in movies.

Speaking of her topless scene, Elizabeth said: "If I hadn’t done American Pie and I hadn’t done the role of Nadia and the nudity that came along with it, I might not have a career today."

Referring to how times have since drastically changed, she continued: "I mean, kids are taking pictures of themselves and putting it on the internet all the time.

"So it's not as big of a deal; you see it (nudity) online every day and you see it on Instagram. I didn't really think about the fact that my character had nudity.

"I was a struggling actor auditioning for everything I could, so when I got the role I was so excited to get it. I tried really hard to go in there and not be nervous."

On the 21st anniversary of the film's release, she shared an Instagram post with footage of her iconic scene while explaining that her 'entire life changed' thanks to the comedy.

"Nadia was never meant to be a main character in the series, but thanks to all of you, she led me into a career I could never have dreamed of," she wrote.

"Thank you to each and every one of you. I am eternally grateful and so honoured I was chosen to be a part of this incredible franchise."

The Texas-born actress went on to bag roles in a host of huge films after playing Nadia, as well as returning for American Pie's sequel in 2001 - although she nearly turned this down due to her puny paycheque.

Elizabeth, who is also a talented poker player, appeared in movies such as Scary Movie, Tomcats, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, Thirteen Ghosts, Love Actually and The Grand.

She also found success on the small screen too, with TV roles in That '70s Show and the short-lived sitcom Cuts.

As well as relishing in the notoriety her role as Nadia brought her in the early 2000s, Elizabeth was also pursuing one of her other passions too - animal conservation.

She previously revealed that she launched the non-profit organisation in 2001 as she 'wanted to help out more animals on a bigger scale'.

"I went on a journey of figuring out what that was and realised there was this hectic poaching crisis going on in other parts of the world," Elizabeth said last year.

And during a panel at Pittsburgh's Steel City Con last week, she gave fans an update on how her organisation has grown since then.

"I started my charity, which was called Animal Avengers at the time [of American Pie]," she said, as per People. "It's been going since then, it's just morphed over the years into conservation and wildlife from dogs and cats."

Elizabeth has since rebranded the organisation to the 'Shannon Elizabeth Foundation', which aims to combat the poaching crisis in South Africa.

"We're building a sanctuary," the actress added. "We have a blind black rhino we've been taking care of, and we're going to bring in more rhinos as soon as we can do an expansion."