Emily Atack has been open about the bad things that have happened to her while she was performing, such as being s**ually @ssaulted on the sets of movies and TV shows.
The 35-year-old actress became famous for playing Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners in 2008. She claimed that these kinds of things have been “a reality” for her throughout her career, both while filming and at industry events like wrap parties. She now wants to bring attention to the issue with a new documentary project.
Atack told Radio Times that the recent development of int!macy coordinators in the industry is a sign of a big cultural change. These professionals, who are becoming more common on projects with s**ual or romantic themes, are trained to make sure that actors feel secure and supported during delicate situations.
Emily Atack talks about being s**ually @ssaulted on set.
She said that int!macy coordinators are there to help if you feel uncomfortable, no matter if you’re a guy or a woman. People have rolled their eyes and said, “I don’t need one.” It feels defensive. But I’ve been s**ually abused at work my whole career, whether it’s on set or at a wrap party. People are paying attention to the #MeToo movement, and things need to change on sets.
Atack compared those earlier experiences to her most recent appearance in the Disney+ series Rivals, which is based on Jilly Cooper’s steamy books. The program, which has a lot of close-up scenes, has made her feel comfortable again.
She stated, “I’m really proud of the Rivals gang because I’ve never felt safe all the time in my life, and we’re all so respectful of each other.” We have to do a lot of s**ual sequences, but we’re well taken care of. It’s a very good thing.
How int!macy coordinators are transforming TV
The actress said that she is in the early stages of talks to make a new production about int!macy coordinators and how they are becoming more important in the entertainment industry. This would be a follow-up to her 2023 BBC Two documentary Emily Atack: Asking For It.
Her last documentary was on the scary rise in s**ual har@ssment she got on Instagram and TikTok, where she got s**ually violent threats every day. Atack said she started uploading screenshots of the abuse during the lockdown to raise awareness because she was startled at how normal it had become.
Credit: PA
She said at the time that the reason I say this online abuse is as horrible as on the street is because it makes me feel the same way. I can delete a message like that, but it’s already in.
Atack is still able to juggle her demanding acting career with her job as an advocate. She is presently filming the second season of Rivals with Danny Dyer. She will also co-host ITV’s new Saturday night game show, Nobody’s Fool, with him.
According to Mail Online, Dyer quipped recently that the steamy drama has so many bedroom scenes that we’ve used every int!macy expert in the country.
For Atack, though, the trainers are a sign of something far more serious: a long-overdue change in the entertainment business toward safety, respect, and accountability.