Rivals star Emily Atack has opened up her relationship to scientist Dr. Alistair Garner after previously shutting down “damaging” rumours that she’s dating her cousin. The Inbetweeners star is currently playing Sarah Stratton in Rivals season two, the ambitious mistress-turned-wife of deputy prime minister Paul Stratton. In a new interview on the How To Fail with Elizabeth Day podcast, she candidly opened up about her past struggles, as well as her happy marriage to Garner, who she shares a son with. After going public with their relationship, rumours emerged that Atack was dating her cousin, which she later slammed as “damaging” and “awful.” View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emily Atack (@emilyatack) In reality, Atack is engaged to her step-cousin, meaning her and Garner aren’t blood related whatsoever. Even then, Atack admits it was a bit odd due to their shared history. Speaking on the podcast, she explained, “It’s an interesting story with Al and I because we’ve known each other for 30 years. I remember meeting him when I was very young. “I think I was about five years old when I met him. That might sound strange to some people, but we were just kids then and we would just play together. “And so we reconnected as adults, but kind of going, ‘We’ve got such a connection and it is a bit confusing and a bit odd, but we really fancy each other.’ “And then we were kind of going, ‘Yeah, but we’re not allowed to fancy each other because my auntie is married to your dad. It’s weird.’ “And so there was all that kind of back and forth, but we couldn’t help it in the end.” As Day pointed out, they’re not related by blood. “It’s like having a neighbour on the same street and they have a kid the same age and you play together and then that develops into something.” “Exactly. And we remember each other from our childhoods and all of that,” Atack replied. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Emily Atack (@emilyatack) The Rivals star went on to say that she vividly recalls the moment Garner’s father passed away. “It was then in that moment when Steve passed that we decided we were never going to leave each other’s side, because what are we doing wasting this time?” she said. “We were going through all these relationships – all these boyfriends and girlfriends that we don’t want to be with – and we want to be together.” “There was a moment just before Steve had passed away and I was sat with him and I walked out into the corridor of the house and Al just hugged me,” Atack added. “We just didn’t stop hugging for about 20 minutes, not saying anything. And it was the first time I’d seen Al look so frightened and scared and alone, and I hugged him and then Steve died really shortly after that. “We’re bonded by this kind of grief but also this strength of spirituality in a sense. I mean, he’s a scientist, so he’d argue that slightly, but there’s this really unusual and unbreakable bond Al and I have.” For all the latest film and TV updates and hot takes, like our Facebook page. Featured image credit: Hulu/Instagram/@emilyatack Post navigation Next storyPrevious story
