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Emily Atack opens up on stereotyping struggles in acting career

Emily Atack poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2020 in London on February 18, 2020. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)
Emily Atack poses on the red carpet on arrival for the BRIT Awards 2020 in London on February 18, 2020. (Photo by Tolga Akmen/AFP via Getty Images)

Emily Atack has shared how she had to reinvent herself in her career after being stereotyped into "girl-next-door" roles.

The actor and comedian became well known to TV audiences after appearing as popular girl Charlotte Hinchcliffe in The Inbetweeners and was subsequently cast in similar "bombshell" type roles - but found them to dwindle as she got older.

“I have been stereotyped, you know. It has worked in a positive way for me a lot of the time, I started in The Inbetweeners as the girl-next-door type,” she said on Channel 4's Sunday Brunch while discussing her recent venture into stand-up.

Read more: Emily Atack and mum Kate Robbins ran from 7/7 bombings

“You are typecast in the industry after such a big hit like that and I had some amazing roles, lovely, lovely roles, playing the bombshell-type role.

Emily Atack  attends the UK Premiere of 'Valentine's Day' at Odeon Leicester Square on February 11, 2010 in London, England.  (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage)
Emily Atack attends the UK Premiere of 'Valentine's Day' at Odeon Leicester Square on February 11, 2010 in London, England. (Photo by Ferdaus Shamim/WireImage)

“But then you get a bit older, things get a bit lower, and all of a sudden you aren’t good enough for those roles any more.”

Atack added that after doing lads' mags and having pin-up status it was hard to show what else she was capable of.

The 30-year-old's career received a boost when she appeared on I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! in 2018 where she came as runner-up to winner Harry Redknapp.

Fleur East, Harry Redknapp, Nick Knowles, Emily Atack, John Barrowman, Anne Hegerty, James McVey and Scarlett Moffatt pose with The Bruce Forsyth Entertainment Award for I'm A Celebrity… Get Me Out Of Here! in the winners room during the National Television Awards held at The O2 Arena on January 22, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Joe Maher/WireImage)

The following year, she hosted the programme's sister-show Extra Camp and also had a guest presenting stint on This Morning.

Last October, Atack also published her first book Are We There Yet? To Indignity . . . and Beyond! which saw her discuss the highs and lows of her life, career and relationships.

Atack was notably absent from The Inbetweeners reunion which aired earlier last year. However, she's remained tight-lipped on the reason behind her being cut from the special, which ultimately received a very lukewarm reception.