Emily Atack shows off bronzed glow in immaculate social media snaps - before making low-key arrival at Rivals screening

Emily Atack revealed two rather different looks on Thursday as she prepared for a special screening of Rivals. 

The actress will reprise her role as aspiring TV presenter Sarah Stratton in the forthcoming second series of the hit show, which returns to Amazon Prime on May 15. 

Attending a preview at London's Soho Hotel, Atack, 36, looked stunning in a chic satin top and black trousers as she joined her co-stars on the red carpet. 

She teamed her look with a pair of gold capped stiletto heels, while her tousled hair was styled in a distinctive updo. 

But she revealed a rather different look in posts shared across social media earlier that night, with a filtered Atack revealing sharper features and a bronzed glow while modelling a smart linen co-ord. 

Rivals will return to Disney+ on May 15 with 12 new episodes which will be released in two parts. 

Atack recently reflected on playing 'flawed' women ahead of the raunchy new series of Rivals being released next month.

The Disney+ project, based on Jilly Cooper's novel of the same name, became an instant hit when it debuted in 2024.

In a new interview, Atack - whose naked tennis scene was one of the most memorable parts of series one - described Sarah (the second wife of MP Paul Stratton) as 'an absolute f***ing nightmare'.

She told The Times: 'People in the past never wanted to admit that they identify with characters like Sarah as she's promiscuous and naughty.

'Now, characters like her, people are going, 'Why am I rooting for them?' I'm all for that. I want to play a flawed woman in a right bl**dy pickle.'

Disney are said to be so confident it will do well that talks of a third series have already begun.

The third instalment of the show would be based on Jilly's 1991 novel Polo, the third book in her Rutshire Chronicles.

A source told The Sun: 'It's not clear yet if the next series will still be called Rivals or flip to become Polo, or perhaps another title altogether.

'Either way, Disney are so confident the second series will be as well received as the debut season they already have wheels in motion on the third.

'Fans will be delighted to know that almost all the characters in Rivals also appear in Polo - and the follow-up novel is just as steamy as its predecessor, if not more so.'

Filming for the third series could begin later this year and would likely air in late 2027 or early 2028.

Atack recently moved out of London with partner Alistair Garner and son Barney, 22 months, opting for a quieter life in an idyllic village some fifteen minutes away from her actress mother Kate's childhood home.

A source told The Sun: 'She moved out of her family home 20 years ago but is now back living just 15 minutes away from her mum in a neighbouring village.

'It's all because of the man she fell in love with – and how he's given her the confidence to trust herself.

'She's had the biggest success of her career to date since starring in Rivals and is now living the life she truly wants.'

The move comes after Atack was accused of using fast-track weight loss jabs to achieve her remarkable transformation.

The actress divided Instagram followers while modelling a chic black Agent Provocateur minidress on the social media platform.

'Skinny jabs are jabbing,' wrote one follower, while another asked, 'on the jabs? Looks good tho.'

In defence of Atack, a third commented: 'These comments! Aren't we over talking about women's bodies?'

While a fourth added: 'The thing is, women can't win. We are either too fat or too skinny. While I appreciate you admiring her a bit larger, her size or any woman's size is not for public comment. Let's just say she is stunning.'

Just months after giving birth to her son, Atack revealed she had been inundated with questions about her weight, but had refused to rush back to the gym.

Speaking to Jamie Laing on his Great Company podcast in November 2024, she said: 'There's something quite liberating about having a baby. Your body goes through so much and you genuinely look at your body as a completely different vessel.

'Being pregnant and being desexualised, looking at your body, you create a human inside you, then you give birth to your child - which by the way is mental - you get home and the first thing people say to you is, when are you going to get back in the gym?'

She added: 'Are you kidding? I've just created a human, I am exhausted! I've just tried to push a human out of me and had it ripped out of my stomach.

'The last thing I want to do is go to the gym but the first thing you're expected to do is get back into shape.

'Where's the congratulations for being a mother? Instead it's when are you going to get the baby weight off... I'm not back at the gym at the minute, I've actually put on more weight since giving birth. I'm just enjoying this bit.'

Atack revealed that she's always had a 'healthy relationship' with her weight but was unprepared for the comments she'd receive in her breakout role as Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners.

'Everybody started talking about my weight,' she explained. 'There was a whole Facebook page dedicated to me/Charlotte Hinchcliffe. I couldn't believe how awful it was, people talking about my weight.

'People would then try and be positive and say, 'At least we're seeing curvier girls now playing sexier roles on television.' I didn't even know I was curvy!

'I was a size eight, a tiny little body, but to some people it was the first time they'd seen a girl that wasn't really, really skinny. They were used to seeing very underweight actresses playing the sexy girls.'