Emily Atack stars in Disney+'s 'Rivals' with debut scene that's turning heads

Emily Atack has made a startling debut in the new Disney+ adaptation of Jilly Cooper's risque novel 'Rivals', which is receiving high praise on Rotten Tomatoes.

The 34 year old actress, known for her role in the comedy The Inbetweeners, has left fans stunned with her opening scene in the new adaptation where she appears completely nude while playing tennis. The series kicks off with several people joining the mile-high club during a flight, followed by Emily's scene-stealing moment, all within the first 25 minutes of the star-studded series.

Viewers are also enjoying it, awarding the show a high Rotten Tomatoes score after its release on the streaming platform on Friday (October 18). Alongside Emily's daring performance, the series also stars Katherine Parkinson, Danny Dyer and former Doctor Who, David Tennant.

In the series, Emily portrays Sarah Stratton, the wife of the Deputy Prime Minister, played by Rufus Jones. She uses her status to secure a role as a TV presenter as the power-centric plot unfolds.

In a previous interview with Digital Spy, Emily disclosed that her concern wasn't about appearing naked, but rather ensuring she looked convincing playing tennis, reports the Mirror.

She explained: "It wasn't, 'I'm gonna have to run around a tennis court completely starkers'. But, I like a big entrance. I was like, 'Yeah, bring it on'. We keep saying that the nudity and the sex scenes are a huge part of this, but there's always a reason for them. We're not just getting our kit off for no reason. They're very integral to the storylines and characters."

As Emily's bold choices become a hot topic among viewers, who eagerly discuss the scenes online, they've also highlighted the show's witty script. Celeb Kathy Burke couldn't resist sharing her praise for the programme, tweeting: "Had the privilege of a sneak peek of the first episode and it's fantastic! All eps drop today like most of the characters under-crackers. Can't wait!"

Connecting with co-star Alex Hassell proved effortless for Emily, who felt "completely comfortable" working with him. She didn't hold back in praising the entire Rivals team and the intimacy coordinators, calling the atmosphere "liberating" and "safe".

During a candid conversation about the risque scenes, she said: "We all knew each other really well by then. I think anybody that had nudity scenes and sex scenes, we all just really supported each other, so we loved talking about it. It was liberating and it was very safe."

Disney+ now hosts the steaming service for the series Rivals.

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