Bella Maclean has no-nudity clause in Rivals contract
Rivals star Bella Maclean has revealed that she has a no-nudity clause in her contract on the racy Disney+ series.
Bella Maclean negotiated a no-nudity clause in her Rivals contract.
Bella Maclean covers Harper’s Bazaar UK © Courtesy of Harper’s Bazaar UK/Pip
The 28-year-old actress plays Taggie O’Hara in the Disney+ series that is based on Dame Jilly Cooper’s racy Rutshire Chronicles novels but has made sure that she won’t flash the flesh on the show for the sake of both herself and her alter ego.
Bella told Harper’s Bazaar UK magazine: “It was important because of how pure Taggie’s character was. I didn’t want to sexually exploit her, and I didn’t want to do that to myself either.
“That was really important to me, and I think it will stay important to me. There are some things I just want to keep to myself.”
She added: “I don’t judge anyone who does it. Sometimes it’s so beautiful. If I had (co-star) Victoria Smurfit’s body, I’d probably be walking around naked!
“But in that sense, we’re all lucky because there are amazing intimacy co-ordinators on our job. I know that’s not the case for other people. We’re all good friends who can just say ‘No’ to the directors and they’ll listen.”
The concluding half of Rivals season two arrives on Disney+ over the coming weeks and Bella explained that the spirit of Jilly, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 88, is still keenly felt on the show.
The Sex Education star said: “Jilly is the heart of everything we do, and I feel her naughtiness a lot in the second half of the new season. This series is so juicy, it gets so intense. That’s all Jillyness. She pushed things.”
Meanwhile, Bella expressed how grateful she was to receive advice from Hollywood star Emily Blunt – the younger sibling of Rivals executive producer Felicity Blunt.
She recalled: “Emily talked me through her experiences and gave me amazing advice. She said, ‘I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and it’s OK to feel nervous – you’re there for a reason, and you must remember that. The industry isn’t perfect – there are going to be moments when things are really unfair, and you need to know when to stand up for yourself.’
“She’s given so much time and support.”
Bella also revealed The Devil Wears Prada star “pinched (her) on the bum” when they later met in person at the Rivals premiere in New York.
She said: “I was doing an interview at the Rivals premiere in New York, and she walked past and pinched me on the bum!
“The Blunts are truly fabulous! They’re sophisticated, chic, intelligent, naughty and hilarious.”
The December/ January issue of Harper’s Bazaar UK is on sale from 6 November and the full interview with Bella Maclean can be read at https://www.harpersbazaar.com/uk/culture/entertainment/a74273263/bella-maclean/
