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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Alan Johnson

Emily Atack opens up daily sexual harassment she received from 'very young age'

Actress Emily Atack is to open up on being the subject of sexual harassment on a daily basis in a new documentary to be aired by the BBC.

The 32-year old, who shot to fame after landing the role of Charlotte Hinchcliffe in Channel 4 comedy The Inbetweeners, will discuss how sex pests have targeted her online for years, whilst trying to understand why.

The actress and comedian told The Sun: "With this documentary, I am hoping to find answers to the many questions I've been asking myself my entire life, and I hope it will go on to help thousands of others too."

The documentary will also follow Emily as she seeks to speak to men who have sent her explicit content in the past, as she investigates the psychological reasons for such behaviour.

Emily has worked on a BBC documentary 'Emily Atack: Sexual Harassment & Me' (emilyatack/Instagram)

Earlier this year she told the Mirror that being bombarded with sexually explicit images from men puts her off her cornflakes.

She revealed the unwanted trolling starts as soon as she wakes up and she receives pictures of "about 10 penises I have not asked to see" before breakfast.

The star added that the unwanted messages can take their toll, declearing "If someone sends me a sexually explicit message, I'm like, 'Why have they said that to me?'

"It makes you question who you are and why you're single."

Emily says she has been sexually harassed from 'a very young age' (Instagram)

Emily's mother, comedian Kate Robbins will also feature in the hard-hitting documentary, as the pair discuss her ordeal.

She claims she receives up to 200 messages per day that feature explicit or sexual content.

And while some of her close friends have suggested she could simply ‘ignore’ the explicit DMs that are sent to her, she wants to take action to prevent or criminalise those who do do it instead.

The Celebrity Juice star has campaigned against cyberflashing (the act of sending obscene images to strangers online) in the past and spoke in Parliament on the matter, helping to ensure it would become an official illegal offence under the Online Safety Bill.

Emily has been an ardent campaigner against cyberflashing (Getty Images)

An industry insider told the Sun : "This is a massive career moment for Emily. Not only has she spearheaded an important movement, but the BBC are investing a lot in her.

"She’s taking the role very seriously and wants to do it justice, she’s revealing a lot about herself too, but knows it could help a lot of people suffering."

Emily Atack : Sexual Harassment & Me airs later this year.

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