Topless at 52: Kim Cattrall bares all in the name of art... and holds her own among the younger models



Kim Cattrall is nothing if not brave.



The game actress's latest role called for her to take off her clothes for a worthy cause - to save a valuable artwork - alongside a troupe of super-fit twenty-something performers from theatre production La Clique.

And the 52-year-old actress, who regularly stripped in television show Sex And The City, duly rose to the challenge, holding her own among the nubile young bodies who were assembled to recreate Titian masterpiece Diana and Actaeon.

BBC Two's The Culture Show teamed up with artist and photographer Tom Hunter to create a modern-day version of the artwork.

In the name of art: Kim Cattrall, 52, bared virtually all to recreate Titian masterpiece Diana and Actaeon alongside (L-R) Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Kimberly Williams and Yulia Pykhtina



The shoot was organised by BBC programme The Culture Show and helmed by photographer and artist Tom Hunter



Tom Hunter is well known for his recreation of old masters and is the only photographer to have had an exhibition at the National Gallery, London.

The Culture Show challenged Hunter to create a 21st century version of the painting after he came out in support of the campaign to raise £50million to keep it on public display in Britain.

For the recreation, Cattrall posed alongside the cast of cult cabaret production La Clique; David O Mer, Fiona Anderson, Anna Harnden, Alexandra Roy, Ursula Martinez, Gemma Rolls-Bentley, Kimberly Williams and Yulia Pykhtina.



Titian's Diana: One of two paintings - Diana and Actaeon, and Diana and Callisto - being offered by the Duke of Sutherland to the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery of London at £50million



And Miss Cattrall features as Diana in the picture alongside art students from the Courtauld Institute and performers from the hit West End burlesque show La Clique.

Tom said: 'Kim is the perfect Diana. Just like the Greek goddess, she combines beauty with a sense of threat.



'She was a great sport and at 52 made an amazing Diana. She more than held her own among a room full of twenty-somethings.



'The picture can't of course hold a candle to the original which deserves to remain on public view. This painting is sublime and to lose it to a private collection would be a tragedy.'

Cattrall, whose parents are British, is a regular visitor to the National Gallery and a huge admirer of Titian's work.



Cattrall in movie Sex And The City (2008). From left Miranda (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte (Kristin Davis), Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Samantha (Kim Cattrall)

She said: 'Viewing this painting is like being in the presence of genius, it would be a tragedy if it were not on public view'.

The Duke of Sutherland, who owns the painting, has given the National Galleries of Scotland and the National Gallery, London until December 31 to raise £50million to buy it from him. After that point, he may sell it on the open market.



Earlier this month, artist Tracey Emin took a petition to Downing Street to try to garner support for the campaign and the signatories include artists Damien Hirst, Anthony Gormley and Lucian Freud.



The Culture Show featuring the collaboration will be screened on BBC2 on 25th November at 10pm.











