Wearing nothing but lacy black underwear, she peels off her bra while the band plays in the background.

Speaking from Los Angeles, Phoenix said the video's director, Jason Faikov, personally asked her to appear in the video for the song "Unholy".

''He needed a girl who could own her sensuality on camera. It helps that we have had a long working relationship, starting back in 2003 when I first shot for Sports Illustrated swimwear," said Phoenix.

And the Durban-born beauty said she had been only too happy to show off her dance moves.

''It was the first time I had the opportunity to dance for film. Most people know me as a model and now as an actress. Few know I am a dancer.

"The video has been edited in such a way as to leave the audience guessing about what they have just seen. But we spent hours shooting. I was exhausted by the end."

Phoenix, a big fan of the band, is good friends with lead singer George van der Spuy.

She said: ''Unholy is a song about people doing wild, risqué things. I am no muso, but a good video gets people watching and interested in the music, so push the limits, make it edgy, don't be afraid."