Actress Heather Graham has urged women to get stripping - because the sexy act is so empowering.

The Boogie Nights star plays an exotic dancer in new comedy The Hangover and admits her pole dancing preparation was easy because she's had lessons before.

Graham is among Hollywood's hot ladies who have hooked up with actress and stripper teacher Sheila Kelley for her famous S Factor pole dancing classes - and now she's a regular.

She reveals, "I had taken this female empowerment class and Sheila Kelley came in and talked about her classes. I had actually taken her classes because my friend taught one of them. She worked at the Mayor's office and quit her job to become a pole dancing instructor.

"For this film I went back and took some refresher courses. It's a dance class but they teach you pole dancing moves and it reminded me how great it is... It's for any kind of woman, women of all different ages and sizes.

"As a woman, it's inspiring because any woman can feel sexy and you're cheering each other on. You're not doing it for like, 'Oh, just give me a tip.' Usually people wear shorts and a tank top or a bra and you just cheer each other on. You're doing it to feel good about yourself and see other women feel good about themselves."