Essy Persson
Nude

Essy Persson is an easy person to love. See, Sweden’s own Essy deserves a special place in every skinophile’s heart because she explored virgin territory fearlessly, appearing in highly erotic films in an age when that sort of thing wasn’t quite accepted by the general public, not even in erotically charged Europe. In fact, her first film, Jag — en kvinna (1965), was banned in Finland when it was first released. Thankfully, the producers brought it to America under the new title I, a Woman (1965), where select audiences embraced the frank sexuality and tame-by-today’s-standards nude scenes. (There are a few brief black and white glimpses of Essy’s hooters . . . no wonder it was banned!) She went on to show off her incredible body again in Lejonsommar (1968) as well as Therese und Isabell (1968), the latter featuring some pretty steamy lesbian action, which was exceptionally rare back then. It’s definitely not as daring as some of today’s offerings, but the hairy trails it blazed are historic! But if you want to see Essy dripping pure Essy-X appeal in color, your only option is 1970’s Cry of the Banshee (1970). She of the frequently banned gets thrown on the bed and undressed in the period piece about a witch hunter in 1500’s England who gets to feel what it’s like when Essy Perrson’s kitty purrs. Essy kept acting in TV shows like Profitorerna and Goda grannar as well as movies like Blomstrande tider (1980), but left the biz in 1987. A true pioneer of near pornography, Essy is an essential Persson in the evolution of skin.