Cobie Smulders talks going topless for Women's Health

LOS ANGELES, April 16 (UPI) -- Cobie Smulders recently went topless for Women's Health.

The 33-year-old actress covered the magazine's latest issue in nothing but denim shorts, and also stripped down for the accompanying spread. Smulders explained her choice in the interview, declaring she chose to go topless for herself.

"I wasn't trying to appear 'sexy,' which was interesting," she shared. "Because it's a women's magazine, I feel like being topless is more about being confident and being happy with your body, rather than trying to excite somebody else. That's what this cover was more about."

Photographer Eric Ray Davidson shot Smulders mere months after the actress welcomed a son with husband Taran Killam. The star credited her fit figure to SoulCycle, saying the 45-minute spinning class makes her "feel great."

Smulders is best known for portraying Robin Scherbatsky on CBS sitcom How I Met Your Mother, which came to a close after nine seasons in March 2014. The actress currently plays Maria Hill in the Marvel cinematic universe, and will reprise the character on ABC series Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.