Olivia Cooke is sharing a candid look behind the scenes of her latest Prime Video thriller, The Girlfriend, revealing that she nearly fainted during filming after skipping breakfast before a nude scene. The 31-year-old actress, who plays Cherry, a manipulative social climber, discussed the physical and mental challenges of performing intimate scenes and the pressures of body image in Hollywood.

A Near-Fainting Experience

Cooke told The Sunday Times that she intentionally skipped breakfast before a nude scene, only for the filming schedule to shift and the scene to be delayed. “I felt like I was gonna faint … I was like, ‘I’m not doing this anymore, no way. Give me a croissant!’” she recalled. The actress emphasized the vulnerability that comes with such scenes, saying, “It’s so hard not to feel insecure when only yourself and your partner and your doctor see you like that.”

Cooke’s character Cherry is central to The Girlfriend, a thriller series directed by co-star Robin Wright. Cherry is a social climber who seduces a naive trust fund heir against his mother’s wishes, adding layers of psychological tension to the series.

Body Image Struggles

The House of the Dragon alum also opened up about her ongoing concerns about weight and body image, admitting she has worried about “my weight [and] my cellulite traveling further down my legs.” To combat these insecurities, Cooke deleted social media apps like Instagram from her phone, stating that stepping away from “endlessly shrinking bodies” has been a relief.

“Not to blame this on the patriarchy, but it does just feel like another way to suppress women [and] make them even more anxious and scared about just being in a bigger body,” she explained.

Mental Health Journey

Cooke has been transparent about her struggles with mental health. She revealed that at age 22, she suffered a mental breakdown, experiencing panic attacks daily for three weeks. This period eventually led to an OCD diagnosis and long-lasting intrusive thoughts.

“Your twenties are such a chaotic, topsy-turvy time, where you’re desperately trying to act like an adult, but your frontal lobe is just flapping in the wind,” she said. “It was like you’re being tortured from within. I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

Acting, Cooke said, has been a vital outlet, helping her find relief and grounding amidst mental health challenges. “Between action and cut, that was like heaven,” she shared. Moving back to the U.K. in 2020 allowed her to reconnect with her roots and regain a sense of balance. “I felt more centred and grounded,” she said, recalling time spent in Oldham with childhood acting friends.

The Girlfriend Now Streaming

Season 1 of The Girlfriend is currently streaming on Prime Video, offering audiences a gripping thriller while highlighting Cooke’s dedication to her craft and openness about personal challenges.

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Key Takeaways

• Near-fainting on set: Olivia Cooke almost passed out during a nude scene in The Girlfriend.
• Body image concerns: She opened up about insecurity, weight, and societal pressures on women.
• Mental health: Cooke shared her struggles with panic attacks and OCD in her twenties.
• Acting as therapy: Her work provided relief and focus amid personal challenges.
• Prime Video series: The Girlfriend is now streaming, starring Olivia Cooke and Robin Wright.