Alex Hassell has discussed the challenge of portraying Rupert Campbell-Black in Disney+ drama Rivals
The actor said he initially questioned whether he could capture Rupert’s uncompromising ideas about masculinity, but gradually found his interpretation of the powerful Rutshire figure
Hassell also recalled meeting author Jilly Cooper, whose pride in his performance made their final conversation especially meaningful
Rivals returns on 11 November, when the first three of the remaining six episodes arrive
The final three will then be released weekly, promising further rivalry, romance and scandal.