“It’s Jilly Cooper – it’s an honour to do nudity”

“It’s Jilly Cooper – it’s an honour to do nudity”

As a fan, I found myself completely captivated by the enigmatic portrayal of this character in the series “Rivals”. The actress’s ability to breathe life into such a complex and multi-layered figure is nothing short of mesmerizing. Her performance as a manipulative yet ambitious woman who uses her sexuality to navigate the patriarchal society of the time is both intriguing and thought-provoking.


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In the role I played, a woman married to the Deputy Prime Minister of the Conservative party, some viewers might perceive me as being manipulative and cunning. Regardless, I found the experience of portraying such a character quite engaging.

She’s a character who resembles a car wreck, yet she’s driven, intelligent, and tired of being labeled as merely a “ditzy blonde” throughout her life. In the time period this is set, women often found they had few other choices but to employ their femininity to achieve their goals. However, characters like hers are frequently portrayed as unappealing. Yet, she has many concealed depths and vulnerabilities that make her more complex than initially perceived.

Her look is very much of her time. How did you go about creating it?

In the mornings, I had the earliest pick-up times among all the cast members. Spending countless hours on hair and makeup, with lots of hairspray and backcombing. At my initial costume fitting, I thought it was impossible for me to fit into it, but a pair of Spanx did the trick. To make it work, I even bought an affordable ’80s perfume, which I wore every day.

In a well-known tennis scene featuring Rupert Campbell-Black, neither player wore any clothing. Can you imagine how that might have felt?

From the outset, everyone involved was forewarned about explicit content, including nudity and sexual scenes. This helped ensure that no one was caught off guard. The sex scenes are crucial to the storyline and character development, while the tennis scene is particularly well-known, so we put extra effort into getting it just right. Alex [Hassell] and I collaborated with the director to guarantee our comfort levels. Filming took place under controlled conditions, making me feel secure, and I was delighted with my sunless tan.

In the previous year, you produced a documentary detailing the sexual harassment you’ve endured for quite some time. Was there a moment of doubt when deciding to tackle this project, or did you find yourself feeling bold and resilient instead?

In a different phrasing: No matter what you choose, you’ll never win their approval. If you maintain your modesty, they label you as prudish, and if you expose yourself, they call you promiscuous. However, I cherish my profession, and when the role demands it, I embrace nudity if it’s essential to the plot, I’m protected, and it advances the story. I’ve come to understand that it’s not my actions that require adjustment, but others’ perceptions. I’ve reclaimed control over my narrative – my sexuality, my body. Such roles are exciting. At this stage in my life, it feels empowering to express myself freely. I take pride in what I do, and it’s an honor to work under Jilly Cooper!

Since filming, you’ve had a baby. Are you thinking about work again yet?

For nearly a year straight, I’ve been lounging around, munching peanut butter sandwiches while binge-watching the entire series of “Downton Abbey”. Now that my break is over, it’s time for me to get back on track.

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2024-10-09 19:08