Actor Alex Hassell has revealed that playing the character Rupert Campbell-Black in the Disney+ series "Rivals" has been a healing experience, helping him to address long-held feelings of professional inadequacy. Hassell, 46, shared in a Telegraph interview that years of his acting career were marked by disappointment when potentially career-defining roles "bombed."

"It f***ing hurt. It was really, really painful," Hassell told The Telegraph, recounting moments where he questioned his own abilities after projects like the Coen brothers-written film "Suburbicon," which starred George Clooney, Matt Damon, and Julianne Moore, did not achieve the success he anticipated. He described experiencing what felt like "springboards and then I've sort of… hit the floor afterwards."

This persistent sense of failure, Hassell admitted, was something he carried with him into his role as the international Lothario Rupert Campbell-Black. However, he found that embodying the complex character provided an unexpected avenue for self-reflection and healing. "All of the problems I had with [the role of Rupert], all of the fear I had about it, it's been incredibly helpful to not be deemed to have f***d it up," he said. The actor explained that the role has compelled him to re-evaluate how he has carried himself throughout his life.

Prior to his success in "Rivals," Hassell's early career included a role in "Suburbicon," a film he believed would be a "game-changer." However, its underperformance left him feeling "devastated."

Jilly Cooper's Directorial Advice

Hassell also shared insights from the late author Jilly Cooper, whose 1988 novel inspired the "Rivals" series. Cooper's advice for filming a scene between Hassell's character and his on-screen love interest, Taggie (played by Bella Maclean), was notably direct. "Jilly said to me, 'No, he grabs her and tries to break her like a young horse'," Hassell recalled, expressing his initial surprise. He confessed that he initially struggled to embrace the "alpha, macho Lothario" persona required for Rupert, given his own background as the son of a vicar and nurse, and his attendance at a comprehensive school.

Despite his personal doubts, Hassell's portrayal of Rupert has been widely recognized as a breakthrough for his career. He also shared that he had the opportunity to meet Cooper before her passing in October 2025, and that she expressed pride in his performance. "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 said, describing the memory as "moving."

The second part of "Rivals" season two is set to premiere on November 11.