Emily Atack has revealed that she experienced sepsis following a challenging pregnancy in the summer of 2024, a time during which she also faced social media criticism over her weight loss. The actress, known for her role as Sarah Stratton in the Disney adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s *Rivals*, disclosed the severity of her condition in an interview, describing how she was ill for weeks after giving birth to her first child, Barney.

Atack, 36, said she developed sepsis, a potentially fatal response to infection where the body attacks its own tissues and organs. She noted that she was unable to leave her home for several weeks during her recovery. Post-partum sepsis carries a mortality rate of about 10 percent in the UK.

In addition to battling her illness, Atack recounted enduring harsh online trolling related to her appearance both during and after pregnancy. “I was trolled for being enormous even when I was pregnant and I’m now trolled for having lost weight,” she said. She called for greater patience and understanding, emphasizing the complexity of women’s bodies and the constant changes they undergo. “I am so done with defending it,” she added.

Despite these personal struggles, Atack returned to filming the second series of *Rivals* shortly after childbirth. She explained that she wore a pregnancy suit during production, which contrasted with her character’s typically provocative persona. “I was fully clothed, in a nine-month pregnant suit for most of it,” Atack remarked. Nevertheless, she expressed affection for playing her “bombshell” role, highlighting how she relates to certain traits of Sarah Stratton, such as using her appearance and flirtation to navigate situations even when feeling uncomfortable.

Atack also touched on her evolving views regarding intimacy and relationships. She opened up about her previously “very complicated” relationship with sex, which has changed since she began dating her fiancé, Dr. Alistair Garner, a nuclear scientist, in 2023. Reflecting on their partnership, she said that Garner helped her distinguish between sexiness, beauty, and love, describing those concepts as separate from what she had previously experienced. She referenced psychotherapist Esther Perel’s idea that sex is “somewhere you go,” rather than merely something you do, a perspective she has shared with Garner.

Emily Atack first gained widespread recognition as Charlotte Hinchcliffe on the television series *The Inbetweeners* in 2008. She now balances her acting career with motherhood and her relationship with Garner, with whom she shares her son Barney.