Matt Lauer's grossly uncomfortable interview with Sandra Bullock resurfaces from 2009.

In the wake of his highly-publicised sacking from NBC’s Today over allegations of sexual harassment, Matt Lauer’s 2009 interview with Sandra Bullock has resurfaced, capturing the TV host repeatedly referring to the actress being naked.

In opening the interview by telling Bullock it had been two years since she had appeared on the program, Lauer told the actress only one thing had changed over the course of that period.

“The major thing that’s changed since I’ve seen you last: I have seen you naked,” he said.

Bullock cautiously laughed.

“And I’m so sorry about that. Were you able to sleep afterwards?”

It was the beginning of an interview supposedly about Bullock’s new movie, but one that was instead punctuated by talk of her body. Without clothes on.

He went on, explaining to Bullock a still of her nude body from the film was now his “computer’s screensaver”, before telling her – because the only thing more charming than a man who focuses on your boobs is a man who feels he should explain to you your own movie – “You’re naked for most of this movie!”

“No I’m not! I’m emotionally naked most of this movie,” she responded.

Lauer kept pressing, asking Bullock how she covered her private parts for filming (what, and they say we need to #askhermore?), with him expressing his surprise she used a washcloth, not a loofah because that’s the kind of riddle he should be pondering on national TV.

He then recalled a time when Bullock told him she would never appear nude on film and asked if it was hard to be nude on camera. Remarkably, when the camera flashes to the actress, she’s still sitting there without her middle finger raised his eye level. Shame.

Lucky for viewers, unlucky for Lauer, he felt he should eventually move off the topic of a naked Sandra Bullock, asking the actress a little more about the movie but not without referencing her co-star Betty White being naked, too. After it all, it had been a minute or two since he had referenced a naked woman.

When wrapping up the four minute interview, Lauer asked, “Did I mention you have a nude scene in this movie?”

“Pretty much from the time you opened your mouth," she said.

Lauer laughed, asking Bullock to return soon.

“No, not after this interview, no," she said laughing, but also not really laughing at all.

You can watch the interview in its entirety here: