[on filming 'Nymphomaniac'] There's very much nakedness and sexuality but Joe's such a great character and that, as an actress, is what appealed to me. To play her was an opportunity I couldn't say no to. Being naked on camera is not something I do every day; I wear clothes. But it was a conscious decision to say, 'This is Joe, and as Joe I'm honoring this part of the character'. As Lars said, it's a 'digressionist' movie and all these different stories connect to build this universe you're watching

[on performing graphic sexual material] Your body is your tool as an actor. A painter has his brushes, a musician has his instrument, and as an actor you use your body. We had a nudity contract and porn doubles were there, so everything was set up to make me feel comfortable. In the end, all the nudity and sex stuff is so technical it kind of becomes a mechanical thing and stops being an issue.

'Nymphomaniac' stands for and celebrates female desire, and not being ashamed of it. Joe might be addicted and it might not be healthy, but at the same time she is a woman, Women before couldn't show that. But she stands up for herself and her sexuality, which is empowering. I didn't particularly relate to her, though I admire her determination.

Lars [von Trier] gave me a lot of freedom. He didn't really say, 'Do this. Do that!' The only real direction he gave me was, 'You have to give a bad blow job, Stacy'.