Known for its steamy scenes, the TV adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper's book Rivals has quickly been pegged as the most outrageous 'bonk-buster' to land on our screens in years, and deservedly so. With more full-frontal nudity than you could shake a stick at, the eight-part series is one of the best shows to grace the small screen this year alone.
Take the opening scene alone, which sees Alex Hassell's character Rupert Campbell-Black joining the 'mile-high' club during a flight on Concorde, shortly before Emily Atack's character, Sarah Stratton, is caught playing tennis fully nude alongside Campbell-Black.
FIND OUT MORE ON ELLE COLLECTIVE
Read Next
Atack's is a character who, in the words of Atack, 'uses her sexuality to get the things she wants in the beginning, and towards the end, you kind of understand why she feels like she has no choice but to do that.'
The 34-year-old actor recently came under fire for claims that playing such a character contradicted the work that Atack carries out as a campaigner of sexual violence against women. Hitting back at critics, the actor defended filming nude scenes while making an appearance on Loose Women on October 22. 'I read the script, and they said, "there is going to be a lot of nudity. Are you up for this?" I said, "Disney, there is no way on earth that you are going to get me playing tennis!" But honestly, it was the best job I have ever done in my life; the cast was amazing,' the former Hollyoaks star said.
When asked by Coleen Nolan if she was nervous to film the scenes and being naked, Atack stated that she was fine with it. 'It's so funny isn't it, because people kind of go "well you need to pick a lane, you can't be somebody who does these kinds of roles and campaigns for sexual violence against women", but people think you can't do both,' she said.
Continuing she added, 'I am really trying to hammer this message home, saying that yes, you can. I am exactly where I need to be, at work in a professional environment.'
ELLE Collective is a new community of fashion, beauty and culture lovers. For access to exclusive content, events, inspiring advice from our Editors and industry experts, as well the opportunity to meet designers, thought-leaders and stylists, become a member today HERE.
