Emily Atack, known to many as the vivacious Charlotte Hinchcliffe from the beloved Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners and more recently as Sarah Stratton in Disney+'s racy hit Rivals, has made a deeply personal and distressing revelation: she has been sexually assaulted at work throughout her career. Speaking candidly to Radio Times and other outlets on September 2, 2025, the 35-year-old actress and comedian described a professional journey marked by incidents of sexual assault, both on actual sets and at wrap parties. "I've been sexually assaulted at work throughout my career, whether it's on the actual set, or at a wrap party," Atack told Radio Times, a statement echoed in coverage from The Sun and Female First UK.
It’s a revelation that’s as sobering as it is sadly familiar in the entertainment industry, especially in the years since the #MeToo movement began to shine a light on the long-standing issues of harassment and abuse in film and television. Atack did not go into further detail about the assaults, but she made it clear that the impact has been profound, admitting, "I haven't felt safe all the time." According to BBC News, she began experiencing unwanted attention from a young age, having been cast in The Inbetweeners at just 17, and her experiences have spanned both physical and online spaces.
But Atack’s story is not just one of victimhood—it’s also about change, resilience, and hope. She credits the introduction of intimacy coordinators on sets, particularly during the filming of Rivals, with bringing about a welcome shift in on-set dynamics. "Since the #MeToo movement, it shows that people are listening and that there has to be a shift in behaviour on sets," she explained to Radio Times. Intimacy coordinators, she said, are "there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether you're a man or a woman."
Atack’s praise for the Rivals cast and crew was effusive. "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. We have to do a lot of sexual scenes and we're very looked after. It's a really positive thing," she told Female First UK. The presence of intimacy coordinators, she believes, is a sign that the industry is finally listening and taking action to protect its talent.
The role of intimacy coordinators is still relatively new in the entertainment industry, only gaining traction after 2017 alongside the #MeToo movement and with the success of shows like Sex Education, It's a Sin, and Industry. David Thackeray, a professional intimacy coordinator, explained to Spotlight that his job is "to open communication and transparency when working with intimate content" and to ensure actors feel comfortable and empowered during the filming of intimate scenes. "The root and core of my work is consent," Thackeray said. "I'm there to take away the mystery of how intimate scenes are shot and how you're meant to perform in these moments." Previously, there was often a "work it out for yourselves" attitude, leaving actors vulnerable and unsupported. Now, intimacy coordinators are there to advocate for everyone on set.
Despite the positive changes, Atack has observed that not everyone in the industry is immediately receptive to intimacy coordinators. "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," she told The Sun. Yet, she remains adamant about their importance: "Intimacy coordinators are there for support if you feel uncomfortable, whether you're a man or a woman."
Atack’s willingness to speak out is not new. In 2023, she fronted the BBC documentary Emily Atack: Asking for It?, which chronicled her battle with relentless online sexual harassment. The documentary revealed the staggering volume of explicit pictures and messages she received daily, and her struggle to understand the motivations behind such abuse. The process was so harrowing that Atack underwent therapy to confront the trauma, as reported by BBC News. She described it as one of the hardest things she had ever done.
Her advocacy doesn’t stop with her own experiences. Atack is now keen to make a documentary focused on intimacy coordinators, hoping to spark broader conversations about their value and the ongoing need for culture change in the industry. "I want to do one on intimacy coordinators, and I'm going to start having conversations about it soon," she told Radio Times. Her goal is to highlight how these professionals can support anyone who feels uncomfortable, regardless of gender, and to challenge the defensiveness that sometimes greets their presence.
Atack’s career has evolved alongside these industry changes. After her breakout in The Inbetweeners, she appeared on Dancing On Ice, I’m A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here, The Keith Lemon Sketch Show, and her own ITV2 series, The Emily Atack Show. She has also spoken at the 2025 Edinburgh TV Festival about being "typecast" as sexy women, but she sees this as a strength rather than a drawback. "I've loved every single minute of it, and I would like to carry on playing these sexy women for as long as they'll have me," she said, adding that nuanced roles like Sarah Stratton in Rivals are important because they reflect real, complex women.
Her personal life, too, has influenced her perspective. Atack is a mother to her 14-month-old son Barney, whom she shares with fiancé Alistair Garner. She recently filmed Channel 5’s new thriller The Rumour just ten weeks after giving birth by caesarean section, an experience she described as both exhausting and deeply moving. "I'd given birth 10 weeks before filming, so I was exhausted, emotional and still in agony from my caesarean, but it was really about getting back on the horse," she told Female First UK. Playing a mother on screen took on new meaning for her, as she drew on her real-life emotions to bring authenticity to the role.
Atack has said she wants to raise her son to know how to treat women with respect and to avoid the toxic masculinity that can flourish online. "I want Barney to know he can talk to me about anything – that's the mother I want to be," she told BBC News. It’s a hope that resonates with the broader cultural shift she’s witnessed and helped to advance, both on and off screen.
Emily Atack’s story is a testament to the power of speaking out, the importance of industry reform, and the enduring need for support and advocacy in the workplace. As she prepares to return for the second season of Rivals and continues to campaign for safer, more respectful working environments, her voice—and her willingness to share her truth—are helping to shape a better future for everyone in the entertainment industry.
