10:28am UK, Tuesday October 21, 2003

Hollywood babe Angelina Jolie has revealed she hates stripping off for movie scenes.

The star, renowned for her curvy feminine figure, says she often uses her 24 tattoos as an excuse to avoid showing too much flesh.

Jolie has 24 tattoos and may get more

Jolie told The Daily Star: "Most of my tattoos are only a problem for nude scenes, so it tends to help me."

She said she often tells her more insistent directors "I can't cover that one," or, "It'll take an extra three hours."

The most recent addition to Jolie's collection of body markings - five rows of ancient Cambodian script on her left shoulder - is supposed to ward off bad luck.

She had it done in Thailand six months ago by a traditional method involving a long needle and a hammer.

Jolie explains, "I kind of felt like it was something that I was going through for my adopted son Maddox because it's for protection.

"I felt I should suffer through something, that it was part of something that was a ritual, a prayer for him."