Where is the new SKYRIZI commercial filmed?
Subtitle: Tracking the stunning locations behind the “Free to Bare My Skin” campaign*
(By Carmichael Phillip)
When you watch the latest SKYRIZI commercial — particularly the version titled “Free to Bare My Skin: Boat Ride” — you might find yourself wondering: where was this filmed? With sweeping water vistas, cliff-side climbs, and beach-blown hair gently framing the face of someone embracing clear skin and open air, the landscape plays as big a supporting role as the actors themselves.
In this article, we’ll carefully examine what we do know about the filming locations (and what remains uncertain), why they matter to the ad’s message, and how the visual geography bolsters the campaign’s emotional goals.
Overview of the commercial and its visual setting
The SKYRIZI commercial in question (from late 2024/early 2025) carries the title “Free to Bare My Skin: Boat Ride”. According to industry tracking site iSpot.tv, the spot is designated as a 60-second ad in the Rx: Psoriasis category.
Scenes to note:
A group of individuals at a scenic waterfront dock, gearing up for a boat ride;
A woman (or women) clad in swimwear or light summer attire, stepping into the boat;
Wide-angle shots of clear water, sunlit cliffs, and expansive skies;
Conversation floating atop the visuals: about “bare skin”, “freedom”, and living life less restricted.
Visually, the choice of location is clearly intended to evoke openness, natural beauty, and personal liberation — all tying into the brand message of reclaiming confidence amid chronic skin conditions.
But where is that beautiful setting?
Clues and reported leads on the filming location
There is no definitive, officially-published location listing for the ad (as far as publicly searchable production credits show). However, we can piece together some leads:
On social media, a post states: “Thank you Skyrizi for shooting this ad in Cape Town, South Africa and surrounding areas…”
Discussion threads on forums mention uncertainty but speculate about southern California coastlines or lakes in Washington. For example:
“Looks pretty sweet… Possibly filmed on one of the Channel Islands.”
Paddling Forums
The version of the ad labelled “Boat Ride” suggests a freshwater or lake setting, but the visuals could also support a calm sea bay.
iSpot lists the creative but not location details.
From these fragments, the most substantiated clue is the Cape Town reference — though it remains user-posted and unverified by production credits.
Why Cape Town is a strong candidate — and the alternatives
Why Cape Town fits:
The Instagram/X post explicitly credits Cape Town.
Cape Town offers dramatic water vistas: Table Mountain and its surrounding bays provide sharp cliffs and clear water, similar to the visuals in the ad.
The cost/benefit for international productions: South Africa (Cape Town region) is widely used for film/commercial shoots due to skilled crews and incentive structures.
But: Why caution remains necessary:
The forum speculation about California or Washington suggests multiple viewers see characteristics of U.S. Western coastline/lakefront.
The boat ride scenario could easily take place on a lake (inland) rather than ocean or bay — which may better fit climates like Washington’s lakes or California’s reservoirs.
No credit sheet or credible production journal lists the precise location publicly (at least in our search).
Alternative locations worth considering:
A Californian coastline: The Channel Islands, Jalama State Beach, or coastal lagoons — mentioned in the forum discussion.
Paddling Forums
An inland lake setting: Some Reddit posts mention “Utah?” for another SKYRIZI beach commercial.
Reddit
South Africa remains plausible but lacks direct production confirmation beyond social media.
After balancing the clues, I lean toward the Cape Town region as the most likely filming site for that “Boat Ride” spot — but the evidence remains circumstantial.
How the location amplifies the commercial’s message
Assuming the location (Cape Town or similar) is accurate, why does it matter? Here’s how geography and visuals support the narrative:
Landscape = metaphor for freedom. Wide open water, elevated vantage points, and unobstructed horizons echo the theme of “being free to bare my skin.”
Contrast with limitations. A skin-condition narrative often underscores restriction, concealment, or self-consciousness. Placing the subject in an open, natural environment visually counters that.
Lifestyle appeal. The commercial invites viewers into an aspirational moment: relaxing boat ride, sun on the skin, breezy confidence. That helps position SKYRIZI not just as medicine, but as a pathway to a regained lifestyle.
Relatable authenticity. The actual choice of a non-studio location (cliffs, water, natural light) gives the commercial a more “real” feel versus a heavily artificial set—important for patient-oriented pharma advertising, which increasingly emphasises authenticity.
As one forum commenter put it (with tongue-in-cheek):
“The water looks cold AF.”
Reddit
But the visual effect remains effective: the environment visibly contributes to the story.
Production details, actor perspective & viewer reaction
Unfortunately, detailed production credits (director, shoot days, exact location) for this specific commercial appear to be unavailable in public records at the moment. However:
The ad is clearly part of the broader SKYRIZI campaign which has multiple versions (Beach, In-the-Picture, Boat Ride).
One Reddit commenter who uses the medication posted candid feedback:
“I use Skyrizi … but I HATE this commercial … the woman with the beautiful skin and they are the only ones at that beach…”
Reddit
This reaction illustrates how viewers pay close attention to setting and casting in pharma ads—not just the message but the perceived realism and tone.
From an actor’s viewpoint (though not a direct quote for this ad), the choice of location likely impacted performance: natural light, outdoor conditions, and weather bring authenticity but also logistical challenges (weather, tides, water purity, permits).
With regard to location as part of the actor’s work: an actor in that setting would have to consider how to perform in situ (e.g., on a boat, near edge of water, in open air) rather than on studio floor—each of these factors can deepen the sense of realism for the camera.
While I do not have a direct quote from the actor in this specific spot, the campaign’s overall tone suggests a desire to deliver hope, authenticity, and empowerment—consistent with many of the recent SKYRIZI ads.
Conclusion: What we know, what remains unknown, and why it matters
In summary:
We can reasonably assert that the SKYRIZI commercial titled “Free to Bare My Skin: Boat Ride” uses a dramatic water-based location (water, boat, open sky) to underline its theme of freedom and clear-skin confidence.
The most credible lead points to the Cape Town, South Africa region (per social media mention) as the filming site—but this is unverified by formal production documentation.
Alternate possibilities remain (California coast, U.S. lakes) but lack strong supporting evidence.
Why this location matters: It is more than scenery—it is an active narrative device that strengthens the brand’s message and the viewer’s emotional response.
For viewers, appreciating the filming location adds depth to the commercial experience: it’s not just a pretty backdrop—it’s part of the storytelling.
For the brand and the actor, filming in a striking natural environment lends legitimacy, boosts production value, and helps the actor perform in a real-world setting rather than a studio replicate of one.
What remains unknown: The exact shoot dates, the production company, the crew, and a verified location listing remain elusive publicly. If desired, I could attempt to dig through industry production databases or film-permit registries to locate a more definitive answer (though pharmaceutical ads sometimes keep such details private).
Acting Magazine Newsletters
Never miss out on the best from Acting Magazine.