Anna Maxwell Martin went to a 'practical place' for harrowing Until I Kill You nude scene

Anna Maxwell Martin took her mind to a "practical place" for an invasive nude scene in 'Until I Kill You'.

The 47-year-old actress stars in the upcoming ITV drama as Delia Balmer – a woman who survived a relationship with serial killer John Sweeney – and explained how she went into a different headspace for a sequence where Delia is tied naked to a bed by Sweeney (Shaun Evans).

Anna told BANG Showbiz and assembled media at a screening of the series: "When you've to be tied to a bed completely naked and filmed in front of a crew your head goes to a really practical place. You plan those scenes really meticulously."

The programme is based on a true story and it was during the scene that it dawned on Shaun that he was portraying a real murderer.

The 'Endeavour' actor said: "The scene is about his manipulation of her really. It was an emotional moment and the director came in and she had found it an emotional moment from behind the monitor. It was just a strange atmosphere."

Meanwhile, Anna was pleased to be working opposite Shaun as the casting of the killer was a "deal-breaker" in terms of her taking on the part of Delia.

The 'Motherland' star said: "It was a real deal-breaker for me about who was going to play John Sweeney, we sort of agreed, 'Let's not get anyone who's a d******.'

"It's just too difficult, someone who goes in on themselves, someone who sucks air out of the room. Shaun is just a brilliant listener and we are both good at understanding that we are in a scene together.

"You want all the crew to feel comfortable and not have a miserable time and Shaun was brilliant."