The Crown star Lesley Manville, 68, reveals she felt ‘exposed and vulnerable’ performing sex scenes during her career

The Crown star Lesley Manville has opened up about her experience filming sex scenes early in her career.

The 68-year-old actress, who played Princess Margaret in the latest series of the Netflix hit, revealed she felt “exposed and vulnerable” when filming her 1981 comedy Rita, Sue And Bob Too.

The story sees teenage babysitters Rita and Sue embarking on a romance with Bob, their employer, and was later adapted into a film in 1987.

Talking with The mirror Regarding the staging of sex scenes, she admitted that her concerns were not taken into account when filming the intimate scenes.

She said: “We were very exposed. Our modesty was intact, but vulnerable. It should have been different, but it was not unusual for that time.”

The actress confessed that her concerns were not taken into account when filming the intimate scenes, as she explained: “We were very exposed. Our modesty was intact, but vulnerable” (pictured in 1986 with her then husband Gary Oldman).

Lesley also admitted that there would be a lot of fear in making a film about a man having an affair with two underage girls in today’s society.

Reflecting on her 50-year career, Lesley also spoke about being an older woman in the industry who can still express her sexuality.

She continued: ‘Women see actresses of a certain age who are fabulous…’ I don’t dress inappropriately, but I want the freedom to dress how I want.

‘Luckily, some of the roles I play now represent women who can say, “I’m this age, yes, I’m still sexually active, yes, I want to dress the way I want, yes, I want to be seen as bold and brave and outrageous if we want to be.”

“Otherwise it’s very boring.”

Lesley’s career began after landing a job on Emmerdale aged just 18 after studying at the famous Italia Conti acting school.

She then wanted to appear at the Royal Court Theatre, where she met renowned writer and director Mike Leigh.

The pair worked together on the films Another Year and All or Nothing and Lesley described how it pushed her to try roles outside her comfort zone.

Lesley played Princess Margaret in Netflix’s subsequent series of The Crown and has enjoyed a successful 50-year career.

Lesley recently starred as Amy Winehouse’s Aunt Cynthia in this year’s biographical drama Back To Black (pictured with Marisa Abela)

Lesley portrayed as Susan Ryeland in the BBC drama series Magpie Murders

More recently, Lesley, who was married to actor Gary Oldman from 1987 to 1990, played Cleaning lady turned fashionista Mrs. Harris in the 2022 film Mrs. Harris Goes to Paris.

Last year she appeared in the Apple series Disclaimer, as well as the film Queer, a sequel to Magpie Murder and the second season of BBC’s Sherwood.

She also played Amy Winehouse’s aunt Cynthia in this year’s biographical drama Back To Black.

In October she begins a West End run starring in the Greek tragedy Oedipus alongside Sherlock Holmes star Mark Strong.