Emily Atack reveals liberating nude scene and behind-the-scenes details from Rivals
Emily Atack has opened up about the infamous nude moment in Disney+’s Rivals, saying she couldn’t bring herself to put her clothes back on after filming the opening tennis match that became a defining moment of the series.
In Rivals, the Inbetweeners star plays Sarah Stratton, the mistress-turned-second-wife of a two-timing MP whose affair centers on Rupert Campbell-Black, played by Alex Hassell. The first episode’s full-frontal nude tennis scene, drawn from Jilly Cooper’s 1980s novel, has long been a talking point, and Atack shared more about how the moment was staged and filmed.
During a chat at the Edinburgh TV Festival, Atack explained that the character breakdown for Rivals essentially called for her to be herself on screen: “Think Emily Atack,” they said, and she still had to audition. She recalled arriving in full character attire and being surprised when the team thought she’d dressed up, only to realize she was in costume for the role.
The behind-the-scenes process involved some careful wardrobe work. Atack described wearing a stick-on muff and a merkin designed to resemble an Eighties bush, with fittings to get the look just right. She noted that the merkin’s appearance could be debated—“Oh no, it’s too blonde that one”—but ultimately it helped create a convincing, if unconventional, silhouette. For the on-screen scene, she used a tennis racket and balls to cover herself, while Hassell opted to use his own natural form rather than a prosthetic for the moment when Rupert is written to have a masculine presence capable of “bat bread rolls with.”
Atack admitted the nude moment felt strange and jarring at first to see herself naked on camera, but she soon found it liberating. She even joked with producers when they asked if she could put her clothes back on, revealing the moment had become a defining, freeing experience rather than something to shy away from.
The first season of Rivals proved a huge hit, and production for a second season is already underway, with Atack returning alongside the ensemble cast.
Summary: Emily Atack’s recollections offer a behind-the-scenes look at the Rivals nude scene, highlighting the wardrobe details, the actor’s mindset, and the broader success of the show as it moves toward a second season.
Additional observation: The story underscores how modern television can balance provocative material with thoughtful, transparent storytelling about the actors’ experiences. The positive reception to Rivals suggests audiences remain engaged with both the drama and the era-tinged, high-glamour production style that defines the series.