Hannah Waddingham has told of her joy at being cast in her first period drama at the age of 48.
And the Ted Lasso star says she and her young co-star Solly McLeod didn’t need the help of the sex coach for their bedroom scenes.
The pair have been cast in an ITV adaptation of Henry Fielding’s 1749 novel Tom Jones, about a foundling boy who is adopted and grows up kind and handsome but cannot follow his heart in 18th century Britain because of his lowly birth.
Actress Hannah said she loved playing baddie Lady Bellaston, who falls for Tom in a big way despite knowing he is half her age and in love with her niece, the wealthy heiress Sophia (Sophie Wilde).
On their sex scenes being choreographed by an intimacy co-ordinator, she said: “It was great to have that support, but you find your own rhythms together.
“I imagine her like a hawk with her claws coming down and grabbing Tom.”
Scottish-born Solly agreed Hannah - who next month hosts the Eurovision Song Contest in Liverpool - had been “brilliant” to work with. “What can you expect from Lady B? Naughtiness. She's just very bad. But in a very fun way," he said.
“We didn't have loads of scenes together, but there were a few. And a lot of them, we weren't wearing many clothes, and it was all a bit... you know.”
Theatre star Hannah, who has also had roles in Game of Thrones and Sex Education, said she was delighted to be finally cast in a period drama.
“I feel like I might have peaked in the whole powdered wig world - I’ve massively ticked that box,” she laughed.
Writer Gwyneth Strong said she hadn’t been keen to adapt the book - but soon changed her mind. “I’d never read it, it’s a million pages long and I thought it would just be some sort of randy shagfest,” she admitted.
“I picked it up rather glumly and within a couple of pages was so addicted to it. Tom is a lovely, gorgeous, adorable young man, there’s an incredibly feisty heroine and a wonderful villain. It’s irresistible.”
Tom Jones lands on ITVX from May 4.
