Lily James strips off to frolic in the bath with co-star Emily Beecham after sunbathing pregnant and naked as she plays Linda Radlett in racy first episode of The Pursuit Of Love
Lily James dazzled viewers with her portrayal of Linda Radlett in Sunday night’s first episode of The Pursuit Of Love.
And the show’s racy tone was soon set as the opening scene, which gave viewers a glimpse of the future, saw Lily sunbathing naked and pregnant before a bomb fell on her London home.
The actress, 32, was also seen stripping naked to frolic in the bath with her co-star Emily Beecham, who plays her cousin and pal Fanny, with their conversation soon turning a little raunchy.
New role: Lily James dazzled viewers with her portrayal of Linda Radlett in Sunday night’s first episode of The Pursuit Of Love, with the show’s racy tone soon being set
In scenes showing her character while she was living at her home, where her father Matthew (played by Dominic West) keeps strict control over the children, Lily looked delighted to be with her cousin Fanny, who visits every Christmas.
During the scene, the two women chat about newly discovered information that aunt Emily (Annabel Mullion) is set to marry Davey (John Heffernan) after Fanny saw them naked in bed together earlier in the day.
Linda asks for more information about what Fanny saw, leaving her bemused cousin to joke that she’s ‘sex obsessed’, much to Linda’s amusement.
And making one of many racy remarks, Linda – who is desperate to escape her family and find love- then jokingly declares to her shocked pal: ‘It’s true, I masturbate every time I think about Lady Jane Gray and I think about her all the time.’
There she is: The opening scene, which gave viewers a glimpse of the future, saw the actress sunbathing naked and pregnant before a bomb fell on her London home
Lily’s character is also seen ditching her clothes once again in the bath later in the episode when she reads book.
While the opening showed a very glamorous Lily relaxing on her rooftop with a broadsheet paper resting over her blossoming baby bump.
After sunbathing for a while she was seen climbing down a large ladder into the home’s bedroom and sitting on the bed.
However the next shot showed Linda perched on a pile of rubble with her cousin Fanny appearing to collect her from the ruins and drive her back to the country.
Larking around: Lily’s character Linda joked and chatted with her co-star Emily Beecham, who plays Fanny, in the fun scene
Pals: The women chat about how aunt Emily (Annabel Mullion) is set to marry Davey (John Heffernan) while in the bath, after Fanny saw them naked in bed together earlier in the day
Friendship: Making one of many racy remarks, Linda declares to her shocked pal: ‘I masturbate every time I think about Lady Jane Gray and I think about her all the time’
Linda’s attentions seem to be very much on finding herself a man, with her lines often being related to her romantic endeavours and desire to ‘go to the cinema and have sex’.
And later on in the show, Linda even despairs after her 18-year-old big sister Louisa marries one of their father’s friends who is 45 at the time of the marriage.
However it is not just Lily and co-star Emily who are seen naked, as after the duo sneak away from the country estate for the day to see Tony Kroesig they’re met by a group of nude men in Oxford.
Linda is keen to ditch her dress and join them in the water, however Fanny holds her back from getting involved.
Opening scenes: Right at the start of the hour-long episode, Lily was seen without any clothes as she relaxed on a roof top and read a newspaper while pregnant
Expecting: Her blossoming bump could be clearly seen before Lily climbed down a ladder
What a start: After sitting down on her bed, the shot changed to Linda perched on a pile of rubble after her house was bombed
And although being impressed by Lily’s portrayal of Linda, some viewers were left saying it was a ‘bit weird’ and ‘awkward’ watching actor Dominic West play his co-star’s father, Matthew Radlett, in the adaption of Nancy Mitford’s novel.
In October, Lily, 32, and married Dominic, 51, were caught enjoying what appeared to be a racy weekend in Rome, leading to his wife Catherine FitzGerald assuring the public they were fine – but banning him from talking to the actress again.
Taking to Twitter during the hour-long episode, one viewer wrote: ‘Ah I see this is where Lily James and Dominic West’s ‘friendship’ began then. #pursuitoflove’
And another person penned: ‘Well, it’s a bit awkward watching The Pursuit of Love where Dominic West plays Lily James’ dad when you know they got, erm, ‘close’ during filming..! #ThePursuitOfLove
In the nude: Lily’s character is also seen ditching her clothes once again in the bath later in the episode when she reads book
Stripping off: Linda gets out of her riding clothes to join Fanny in the tub
Close: The duo’s friendship and their different wants in life is explored during the show
While someone else tweeted: ‘Bit weird the whole Lily James and Dominic West thing when he’s playing her Dad in The Pursuit of Love.’
‘Can’t really get past the whole Lily James and Dominic West thing given that they play father and daughter #ThePursuitOfLove,’ added a fourth.
Dominic and Lily share several scenes together throughout the show, with him perfectly playing the role of overbearing and short-tempered father.
Early on in the first episode, the co-stars are seen together on a family fox hunt however they first exchange dialogue over a dinner scene.
Oh my! It is not just Lily and Emily who are seen naked, as after the duo sneak away from the country estate for the day to see Tony Kroesig they’re met by a group of nude men in Oxford
Having fun: The women do not know where to look when they arrive from the country to see the men frolicking in the water
Jumping in: Linda is keen to ditch her dress and join them in the water after two other women strip down to their slips, however Fanny holds her back from getting involved
During this intense scene Uncle Matthew, who dislikes educated women, declares his children never need to leave the estate as they have everything they could possibly need: ‘Church, stables and a tennis court’.
And after quizzing Fanny on George III – with Lily’s character Linda showing off her charm but lack of historical knowledge – Fanny runs out of the room in tears, leaving her aunt Emily to explain Uncle Matthew has ‘trapped his daughters’ at home.
Later scenes between Dominic and Lily show him being angry and her and Fanny for sneaking out of the country house and going on a jaunt to Oxford.
After their return he summons his second eldest daughter and says: ‘I have received a phone call, telling me someone has left a scarf in Tony’s rooms in Oxford.
‘Bit weird’: Some The Pursuit Of Love viewers were left saying it was a ‘bit weird’ and ‘awkward’ watching actor Dominic West play his co-star Lily’ father on Sunday’s show – after THAT cosy weekend in Rome last October
Character: Lily, 32, plays Linda Radlett in the new show who is Dominic’s character Matthew’s second eldest daughter
‘Now we know you’re not to be trusted – so we’ll have to take certain steps. Fanny you will have to go straight home…
‘Fanny is a scarlet women – that’s what we would have called her in the old days – and you miss, are worse than The Bolter [Fanny’s mother].
Uncle Matthew continues: ‘You’re damn lucky to not get a thrashing… now go to your rooms and don’t speak to each other.’
Dominic and Lily are also seen on screen as she announces her surprise engagement to Tony, leaving his character very angry and Linda on the floor.
The Pursuit Of Love was filmed between July and October last year, with Lily and Dominic’s Italy trip taking place shortly after filming on the period drama wrapped.
Reaction: Several viewers said it was a little ‘awkward’ watching the show following the events of the last year
While in the Italian city the duo were spotted putting on a very cosy display as they explored Rome and enjoyed lunch with their mutual agent Angharad Wood.
Following the snaps emerging, Dominic put on a public display of unity with his wife Catherine, with the couple releasing a statement about their marriage.
It read: ‘Our marriage is strong and we’re very much still together.’
Catherine is also said to have banned Dominic from speaking with the actress as part of a peace deal struck between the couple, according to The Mail On Sunday.
Overbearing: Dominic (pictured) share their first proper exchange of dialogue over a dinner scene
‘He has promised never to see, speak or work with Lily again,’ said a friend. There are also to be no joint promo interviews for the TV adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s novel.
Since the public scandal, Lily has found love with Queens of the Stone Age rocker Michael Shuman, 35, and has been pictured meeting his parents in the states.
She recently declined to discuss the media storm about Rome in an interview with The Guardian – but admitted there is in fact much to discuss, saying: ‘Ach, I’m not really willing to talk about that. There is a lot to say, but not now, I’m afraid.’
And ahead of The Pursuit Of Love airing, it was reported that Dominic is reportedly that Lily might decide to speak out about their trip to Rome.
Angry: Dominic and Lily are also seen on screen as she announces her surprise engagement to Tony, leaving his character very angry and Linda on the floor
Desperate to escape: Lily’s character Linda is keen to escape her father’s country estate and experience life and love
A source told The Sun that actor is worried that his co-star’s side of the story ‘could be very different from what he told his wife’.
The source claimed: ‘There is concern about what she is going to say about her side of the story. She’s remained tight-lipped but her version of events could be very different to the one he told his wife.
‘Lily is clearly hurt about being hung out to dry publicly, so it’s likely she will set the record straight at some point.’
MailOnline contacted Dominic West and Lily James’ representatives for further comment at the time.
Claims: It comes amid reports Dominic is concerned that Lily might decide to speak out about their trip to Rome, with a source alleging that ‘her version of events could be very different to the one he told his wife’ (Dominic is pictured with his wife Catherine in October 2020)
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