Emily Atack has bravely shared her experiences of sexual assault while working on TV shows and movies, revealing a side of the entertainment industry that often stays behind closed doors.
The 35-year-old actress, who first captured audiences as Charlotte Hinchcliffe on The Inbetweeners in 2008, has decided to confront these issues head-on and hopes to explore them further in a new documentary.
Finding Safety on Set with Intimacy Coordinators
Emily has been particularly impressed by the introduction of intimacy coordinators on the set of her latest show, Rivals, which features numerous sex scenes.
These professionals are tasked with ensuring actors feel safe and supported, a shift Emily describes as “welcome and necessary.”
Speaking to Radio Times, she said, “Intimacy coordinators are there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether you’re a man or a woman.
I’ve seen people roll their eyes and say, ‘I don’t need one,’ but there’s a defensiveness about it.”
She continued, “I’ve been sexually assaulted at work throughout my career, whether on the set or at wrap parties.
Since the #MeToo movement, it shows people are listening, and there has to be a shift in behaviour on sets.”
A Different Experience on Rivals
Filming Rivals has given Emily a sense of safety she hasn’t always experienced in her career.
“I’m really proud of the Rivals gang because, throughout my life, I haven’t always felt safe, and we’re all so respectful of each other,” she shared.
The actress emphasized that the production takes care of the cast during sexual scenes.
“We have to do a lot of sexual scenes and we’re very looked after. It’s a really positive thing.”
Tackling Online Harassment in a Previous Documentary
Emily is also planning a follow-up to her 2023 BBC2 documentary, Emily Atack: Asking For It, which explored the alarming rise in online sexual harassment.
The project came after Emily faced daily abuse on Instagram and TikTok.
During the documentary, she explained, “We were in lockdown, everyone feeling really isolated, and I noticed a surge in sexually violent threats being sent to me on social media.
I used humour as a way to cope and to ask: is this normal?”
She added, “I screenshotted the messages to understand the scale of the problem.
Sadly, some things happened to me in person too.
Online abuse can stir up the same feelings as in-person attacks. Even if you delete a message, the impact is already there.”
From Small Roles to Breakthrough Fame
Emily’s acting career began 18 years ago with minor roles in dramas like ITV’s Heartbeat.
She achieved breakout fame in The Inbetweeners, which ran from 2008 to 2010 and became one of Britain’s most beloved comedies.
She also appeared in BBC One’s Rock & Chips, the 2013 gangster film Get Lucky, and the 2016 Dad’s Army remake.
Fans also remember her as the runner-up on I’m A Celebrity…Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018.
New Projects on the Horizon
Beyond her documentary ambitions, Emily is reuniting with her Rivals co-star Danny Dyer for a new Saturday night game show, Nobody’s Fool.
Reports suggest they will each earn £250,000, with the show expected to air next year.
Emily and Danny have been filming the second series of Rivals, based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s racy novels.
Danny recently joked about the intensity of the scenes, saying, “We are filming 12 episodes until March next year. It is brilliant but a mad thing to do a sex scene.
On Rivals, there are a lot of intimacy coaches – I think we’ve used every intimacy coach in the land.”
A Platform for Change
With her openness about past abuse, Emily Atack is not just sharing her story—she’s pushing for a safer and more respectful industry.
Between her new documentary project and ongoing acting work, she’s making it clear that change, both on set and online, is long overdue.
