Rivals’ Emily Atack says she was touched and sent inappropriate texts by male co-stars, admitting ‘I’ve been through it’
RIVALS star Emily Atack has revealed she was touched and sent inappropriate text messages by male co-stars when she was a teenager.
Speaking in a new interview with Grazia, she expressed: “I’ve done so many things; I’ve done 13 movies. I’ve worked on some incredible sets and really difficult ones.
“Where I was a teenager, I learned to accept that on certain sets things were going to happen – whether it was touching me, whispering things in my ear between takes when nobody was listening, or texting me outside of work hours with inappropriate things.
“I’ve been through it,” the 36-year-old admitted to the publication.
Her latest show, Rivals on Disney+ features plenty of raunchy scenes but Emily previously praised the use of intimacy co-ordinators on the sets.
Speaking about the use of them in September last year, the mum-of-one explained: “I’ve seen people roll their eyes about them and say, ‘I don’t need one.’
“There’s a defensiveness about it, because they feel like they’re being accused of something they haven’t even done yet.
“Intimacy coordinators are there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether you’re a man or a woman.
“I’ve been sexually assaulted at work throughout my career, whether it’s on the actual set, or at a wrap party.
“And since the #MeToo movement, it shows that people are listening and that there has to be a shift in behaviour on sets.”
The actress, who plays Sarah Stratton, told Radio Times: “I’m really proud of the Rivals gang because, throughout my life, I haven’t felt safe all the time, and we’re all so respectful of each other.
“We have to do a lot of sexual scenes and we’re very looked after — it’s a really positive thing.”
Back in 2023, she was a part of the BBC Two documentary, Emily Atack: Asking For It?, which explored the devastating scale of online sexual harassment.
She uncovered the normalisation of cyber-flashing and addressed the societal tendency to blame victims for unwanted explicit messages.
Following the airing of the highly-praised documentary, Emily actively briefed MPs in Parliament to address loopholes regarding sexual harrasment.
Her advocacy helped secure legal protections in the Online Safety Act.
Emily rose to prominence in 2008 when she played Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners.
As well as her acting work, she’s also made appearances on television shows including Dancing On Ice, I’m A Celebrity, Celebrity Juice and the new ITV quiz show Nobody’s Fool with Danny Dyer.
Outside of her career, she got engaged to materials scientist Dr Alistair Garner in July last year, with their wedding scheduled to happen this September.
The year before, she became a first-time mum when the couple welcomed their baby boy Barney into the world.
She wrote on instagram: “We have a beautiful son. Barney James Garner. All my dreams have come true”
The post featured a sweet black and white snap of Emily with Alistair and their new arrival lying on Emily’s chest.