Carey Mulligan is too ''self conscious'' to wear figure-hugging clothing.

The 'Far from the Madding Crowd' star has confessed she prefers to sport loose-fitting dresses on the red carpet as she feels uncomfortable when she shows off too much of her slender physique.

She said: ''I'm so reserved. I like outfits that come to my knee and aren't too tight or revealing. I'm too self conscious of my body and my appearance.''

The brunette beauty, 29 - who is married to Mumford and Sons star Marcus Mumford - added she hates having her picture taken at high profile events, although she feels as if she has ''improved a little'' when it comes to posing in front of the camera.

She told HELLO! magazine: ''I hate the idea of standing in front of a hundreds of people while they take my picture. It's a nightmare and I feel so uncomfortable. Maybe I've improved a little, but any time I'm on the red carpet I lose all sense of myself. I find it so odd. I know it sounds like a contradiction but I never went into acting for all eyes on me.''