Alex Hassell, the actor portraying Rupert Campbell-Black in the Disney+ series 'Rivals,' has detailed his approach to embodying the character and shared a touching final conversation with the late author Jilly Cooper.
Hassell, 46, admitted to employing a personal trainer and avoiding extreme diets to achieve the physical presence required for the role. "It's not that people are just supposed to look like that – it took a lot of work," he stated in an interview with Radio Times.
He confessed to initial doubts about his suitability for the part, citing an "inherent feeling of what a man should be." Despite these reservations, his performance as the ruthless Tory peer has been widely recognized as a significant achievement in his career.
Hassell also spoke about the impact of receiving approval from Jilly Cooper herself before her passing in October 2025. "I'm so glad to have met her and to have spent time with her and to be told explicitly by her that she was really proud of what I was doing," he recalled. He described this as his last conversation with Cooper and found it "really moving to remember."
Fellow cast member Hayley Atwell, who plays Rupert's first wife, previously shared that Hassell utilized "bottom padding" for certain scenes requiring more "presentation." She noted that by the end of filming, Hassell's dedication to squats meant he no longer needed the padding.
The series is set to continue with its final episodes on November 11, picking up after the mid-season finale and the death of Lady Monica Baddingham. The trailer indicates a deepening conflict between TV bosses Tony Baddingham and Declan O'Hara, with Rupert Campbell-Black caught in the middle. The trailer also teases a potential happy ending for the slow-burning romance between Taggie and Rupert.
The remaining six episodes will be released in two batches: the first three on November 11, followed by weekly releases of the subsequent three.