Inbetweeners star Emily Atack reveals she was sexually assaulted at work throughout her TV career

Rivals and Inbetweeners star Emily Atack has revealed she was sexually assaulted at work throughout her career.

The 35-year-old told the Radio Times she was assaulted "whether it’s on the actual set, or at a wrap party".

Atack, who presented the 2023 documentary Asking for It? about her experiences of cyberflashing and sexual harassment, and the explicit messages she received on social media, did not give further details about the assaults.

The Luton-born actress also called for greater use of intimacy coordinators in the film and TV industry, saying she wants to create a documentary about the safeguarding specialists.

"Intimacy coordinators are there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether you’re a man or a woman," Atack said.

"It shows that people are listening and that there has to be a shift in behaviour on sets."

She acknowledged that intimacy coordinators have sometimes been seen as divisive, but said she disagrees, calling them "positive".

Atack said: "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."

In the Disney+ comedy-drama series, Atack praised the use of intimacy coordinators, saying she felt "very looked after," whereas in the past she had not "felt safe".

"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," she said.

"We have to do a lot of sexual scenes and we’re very looked after. It’s a really positive thing."

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Atack also said she wants to raise her son Barney to be someone who "knows how to treat women... so he doesn’t feel he has to follow awful men online that are preying on vulnerable boys."

Atack added that the Netflix TV show Adolescence "exposed the truth of what is going on in so many homes".

"We’re a very open book in this family. I want Barney to know he can talk to me about anything - that’s the mother I want to be," Atack explained.

Atack will next appear in Channel 5’s new thriller The Rumour later this month.

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