Valerie Bertinelli Posed Nude for Her New Book Cover: ‘It Was Terrifying’

Valerie Bertinelli recently released a new memoir, Getting Naked, which currently has a 4.5 rating on Amazon. Because of the title, the actress felt like she needed a cover to match—and recently opened up about the decision to pose nude during the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books on April 18.

“It was terrifying,” she said. “But here’s the deal. It’s like when I was on the phone with my editor and I was saying, ‘I think because I’m calling it Getting Naked, I need to actually be naked on the cover. So I wanna try and explore that.’ And she’s like, ‘Great!’ And then once it was out of my mouth, I kinda had to do it.”

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Bertinelli revealed that the photoshoot took place at her home. “I walked in [with] like a big sweater on … so I knew that I would be comfortable,” she said. “And at a certain point, I just said, ‘I’m just gonna do it.’”

She continued, “I’m one of those people that if I’m really afraid of something, I’m like, ‘Why? What are you so afraid of? What is it gonna hurt you? Just do it. Who the f— cares?’ So I finally just did it. I did it, I’m not gonna do it again. But it was interesting to walk through that fear and get to the other side of it.”

Related: Valerie Bertinelli Shares Throwback Photo With Wolfgang Van Halen, Who Looks Just Like His Dad

Getting Naked: The Quiet Work of Becoming Perfectly Imperfect was released on March 10. Amazon describes it as a vulnerable book that speaks about divorce, menopause, and generational pain. “She writes with clarity and compassion about the insecurities that have haunted her for decades: shame and anxiety about her body, and the false belief that her value depended on perfection. Through it all, Valerie reflects on the quiet, daily work of self-acceptance—the kind that doesn’t make headlines but changes lives,” the site says.

One reviewer raved, “Loved this book. Valerie was so honest and real. Super easy read. Just like she’s talking to you. Highly recommend.” Another said, “Loved this book! So inspirational! I’ve been a fan of hers for a long time. This just cemented it!”

The audiobook version is narrated by Bertinelli herself.