Los Angeles, Aug 27 (IANS): Jessica Alba is known for her sexy screen roles and status as one of the world's most desirable women, but the actress says she is a "prude" in real life.

Alba says she's really different from the sex symbol label that has been attached to her over the years.

"I never slept my way through Hollywood, so I never felt like I compromised. Apparently people do it, I didn't. I felt like I never compromised myself because I'm a prude. I don't know. I grew up Catholic. In my head I'm always thinking, 'Oh God, can my grandma see this'," Alba told Entertainment Weekly magazine, reports people.com.

The 33-year-old says the sex symbol label was confusing for her many a time.

"I'm kind of a prude, and I didn't really understand. They would always ask me provocative questions about my sexuality, my this or that. Sometimes I would lie and say something that wasn't true to make myself seem more interesting than I was," said Alba.