Everyone And Everything You Need To Know About The 'Rivals' Cast
Not since we subtly read Fifty Shades of Grey on our Kindles during our daily commute have we been so hot under the collar for some raunchy fictional content, and we now have Rivals to thank for that.
The series dropped on Disney+ on October 18, and ever since the eight-part adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel has made us fall in love with 1980s fashion, debauchery, bottles of bubbly and the dramatic lives of the upper class in the Cotswolds.
In addition to memorable scenes, from the naked tennis moment to the 'mile high' club introduction, we’ve been treated to gripping storylines from the series’ characters, navigating money, excess and love affairs in the fictional county of Rutshire. The biggest storyline comes courtesy of ex-Olympian Rupert Campbell-Black (Alex Hassell) and egotistical Tory politician Tony Baddingham (David Tennant), yet there are ample plot threads that keep us thirsting for more involving deception, sexuality and questionable morals.
One of the biggest talking point of the series so far has been its star-studded cast, with actors who have become British legends in recent years, as well as rising stars who are sure to be ones to watch on the small and big screen some next year. David Tennant, who plays the odious Lord Tony Baddingham in the series, has said the public reaction to the show has been ‘bananas’, and there are now rumblings of a second season on the horizon.
As you continue to devour Rivals, here’s a breakdown of the cast:
Alex Hassell as Rupert Campbell-Black
He might play the dishy and much sought-after Tory MP for Rutshire, Rupert Campbell-Black, but before his time as a retired Olympic show jumper in Rivals, Alex Hassell was playing numerous roles for The Royal Shakespeare Company and starred in the adored anti-superhero Prime Video series, The Boys.
In a recent interview with Times2, Essex-born Hassell opened up about nudity in his new show, noting: 'I don't mind seeing my bum and willy on screen, I wouldn't have done the job if I was particularly shy about my body.'
Discussing the logistics of filming the raunchy scenes, he added: ‘You pre-plan all this stuff and then on the day, you're just trying not to giggle too much.'
The 44-year-old is married to Emma King, a fellow actor he met at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.
David Tennant as Lord Tony Baddingham
In Rivals, Tennant plays the detestable Lord Tony Baddingham, the cruel and overly ambitious controller of Corinium Television. Of course, the Scottish actor is best known for having played the iconic Doctor Who, from 2005 to 2010, and has starred in everything, from Jessica Jones and Broadchurch to Deadwater Fell and Inside Man. He also had a devious role in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire as Bartemius Crouch Junior.
The actor is married to fellow English actor and producer Georgia Tennant, who starred in Doctor Who and has also had roles in Merlin and The Bill. The couple are parents to Olive, 13, Wilfred, 11, Doris, eight, Birdie, four, and Georgia's eldest child Ty, 22.
Katherine Parkinson as Lizzie Vereker
Parkinson plays author Lizzie Vereker, who we’ve instantly fallen for thanks to her cheeky behaviour, wicked sense of humour and strong friendships. Parkinson is a British acting legend, having starred in roles in The IT Crowd, Doc Martin and Humans. She also received a British Comedy Best TV Actress Award in 2009 and 2014, and has been nominated twice for the BAFTA Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance, winning it in 2014.
Parkison is married to actor Harry Peacock, with whom she has two daughters.
Claire Rushbrook as Lady Monica Baddingham
Rushbrook plays Lord Tony Baddingham’s wife in the series, and when she’s not organising events for the upper class in the Cotswolds, she’s enjoying croquet and spending time with her dogs (for good reason too, given her husband is having an affair).
Prior to Rivals, Rushbrook starred in the film Secrets & Lies, as well as TV series such as My Mad Fat Diary, Sherwood, Magpie Murders, The Sins, Whitechapel, and Enola Holmes.
Luke Pasqualino as Basil Baddingham
Millenials will immediately know Pasqualino from his time as Freddie in Skins, but in Rivals he plays Tony Baddingham’s younger brother, who loves nothing more than a good flirt and game of polo. In recent years the 34-year-old actor has starred in Our Girl, The Musketeers, Battlestar Galactica and more.
He has previously dated actor and model Maddison Jaizani, singer Perrie Edwards and actor Klariza Clayton.
Aidan Turner as Declan O’Hara
Do we love or hate Declan O'Hara, the TV host stuck in the middle between an ongoing feud between Tony and Rupert? He might play a TV journalist with a wicked temper and cheeky smile in Rivals, but off-screen Turner is best known for this role as Captain Ross Poldark from the 2015 Poldark series, as well as parts in Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and Being Human.
Discussing the cut-throat nature of the characters in the world of Rivals, Turner recently told the Metro: ‘It's in every profession at a certain level too. It does get a bit ruthless. I do remember in my 20s it was pretty cut-throat – even from friends.’
The 41-year-old is married to fellow actor Caitlin Fitzgerald, known for her roles in Masters of Sex, Sweetbitter and Succession. They share a two-year-old son together.
Victoria Smurfit as Maud O’Hara
Smurfit plays Maud, Declan O’Hara's wife, a former actor who loves attention, no matter whether it’s from her adoring party guests or other men. The Irish star is known for her TV roles in the likes of Marcella and Bloodlands, as well as Ballykissangel, Once Upon A Time and Dracula.
Talking about her character in Rivals, O’Hara told Image.ie: ‘She has massive swinging emotions – from the highs to the lows to shouting and roaring to you know, all the things. She does all the things; she’s melancholic, and she’s sort of quite Jacobean and nuts. I love her.’
Bella Maclean as Taggie O'Hara
You can’t help but love Taggie, the eldest daughter of Declan and Maud. In the series, Maclean plays a strong-willed and feisty young woman who is often seen catering for the upper classes' dinner parties, but in real live 23-year-old Bella Maclean is known for her acting CV, with roles in Netflix's Sex Eduction, Silent Witness and Spring Awakening.
In a recent interview with ELLE UK, Maclean admitted the cast is hoping for a season two. ‘It’s a coming-of-age story for Taggie and I think that they really want to push that in season two and make her stronger and just keep growing into a woman,’ she said. ‘She's got this really strong moral compass, and I think they really want to push that even harder, and build her confidence, I think that's where they want to go.'
On working with Hassell, her on-screen love interest in the show, she added: ‘Al and I are best friends, we had the best time filming together, it was really easy. When you spend that much time with each other, you know each other so well. At that point, it's incredibly non-judgmental.
‘And obviously Al and I constantly got the giggles together, so, we just laughed through any slightly uncomfortable situation. He's really the best, I was so lucky to be cast with him.’
Nafessa Williams as Cameron Cook
We can’t work out how we feel about Williams’ character Cameron Cook, the ambitious American entrepreneur who takes no prisoners at work at Corinium and is equally having an affair with its owner, Lord Tony Baddingham. When she’s not wearing power suits with cinched in waists in Rivals, Williams has starred in shows like Black Lightning, The Flash and Code Black.
The 34-year-old was born in Philadelphia but says she loves the humour in England. ‘It’s very matter-of-fact and light and casual, there’s an openness that I don’t think we have so much here,’ she told Tatler.
Oliver Chris as James Vereker
Chris plays the boring, bumbling TV presenter James Vereker, who is married to Lizzie Vereker. Over the years, the actor has played roles in the UK version of The Office, Green Wing and The IT Crowd.
Danny Dyer as Freddie Jones
Danny Dyer has stepped away from The Old Vic pub in Eastenders and now plays the role of Freddie Jones in Rivals, an entrepreneur who is as sweet as he is unfiltered, and brings a welcome relief to the snooty, drama-loving group of Toffs he keeps in his company.
The actor is known for roles in the likes of Football Factory and Human Traffic and is married to his childhood sweetheart, former financial adviser Joanne Mas, who he met at school, aged 14.
Lisa McGrillis as Valerie Jones
Lisa McGrillis plays Valerie Jones, Freddie Jones’ wife who desperately wants to be a part of the Cotswolds group of wives she’s mixing with, but always ends up being the butt of their jokes.
The actor is known for roles in the British series This Is Going to Hurt, Channel 4’s sitcom Dead Pixels, Maternal, The Pass and Mum.
Speaking about Cooper on Sunday Brunch, McGrillis said of the author: ‘She is an icon. She is extraordinary and she is twinkly, naughty, filthy and fun… She wouldn't mind me saying that and she is brilliant.’
Emily Atack as Sarah Stratton
Long gone are Atack’s days in Celebrity Juice and The Inbetweeners, because now she’s stealing scenes as Sarah Stratton, who is first introduced to Rivals playing tennis in the buff and navigating newlywed life in Rutshire.
According to Atack, her character uses ‘her sexuality to get the things she wants in the beginning, and towards the end, you kind of understand why she feels like she has no choice but to do that.'
Hitting back at critics who accused her of playing a character who undermines her work as a campaign of sexual violence against women, the actor told Loose Women: ‘I read the script, and they said, "there is going to be a lot of nudity. Are you up for this?" I said, "Disney, there is no way on earth that you are going to get me playing tennis!" But honestly, it was the best job I have ever done in my life; the cast was amazing.’
Rufus Jones as Paul Stratton
Rufus Jones plays Sarah’s creepy husband, who is well aware of his wife’s love affairs but is too busy trying to climb up the ranks both in his career and social circle. The comedic actor is best known for his roles in W1A and Home.
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