Brooke Shields says a movie like The Blue Lagoon with underage nudity could never be made again

The 1980 classic The Blue Lagoon is more than 40 years old and to mark the occasion, stars Brooke Shields and Christopher Atkins have reunited to discuss their experience making the film.

The Blue Lagoon, directed by Randal Kleiser and written by Douglas Day Stewart, is based on the 1908 novel of the same name by Henry De Vere Stacpoole.

"It wouldn’t be allowed."

She continued: "Animals were hurt in the movie. We were spearing fish and all kinds of crazy things. Children are naked running down a beach."

Atkins added: "I was chafed up to no end."

He later noted: "There were scenes where I was butt naked with you, if you remember, sliding down that slide and things like that.

"And that was a little awkward, but it was kind of funny for me because at this point in time I would just do it."

As she was only 14, Shields recalled how she had never 'really kissed anybody by that age' and also pointed out how everyone wanted the pair to date in real life.

She said: "What I remember, too, is that they wanted us so desperately to fall in love with each other.

"It also struck me, too, because I remember thinking, ‘Hey, let’s just get to know each other first rather than trying to make us fall in love with each other and force the situation'.

"And I didn’t react well to being forced into feeling anything. I wanted to sort of be left a little bit to my own."

But despite never dating in real life, Atkins spoke on the chemistry between the pair that helped the film's success.

He said: "The chemistry between us was just amazing. There were a lot of great, great moments that went on there.

"I think it was a lot of that innocence that came off in the film that made it work even more."