The Winter King star Ellie James has spoken out on a traumatic scene involving her character, Nimue, in the new Arthurian drama on ITVX<\/a>.<\/p>\n The druidess makes an enemy of the barbaric Silurian King Gundleus (Simon Merrells), who intends to sever her connection to the gods by raping her in the show\u2019s second episode.<\/p>\n The scene is taken directly from Bernard Cornwell<\/a>\u2018s novel of the same name, but there has been some debate over whether it should have been cut from the story since the adaptation\u2019s US debut over the summer.<\/p>\n Speaking to ITVX\u2019s official The Winter King podcast<\/a>, James said: \u201cIt\u2019s a controversial one. I really understand why it\u2019s not something that some people want to watch. I, myself, have watched things and thought, \u2018Oh, I didn\u2019t need to see that, I could have been told it.\u2019<\/p>\n \u201cBut then I\u2019ve also seen masterpieces like Tyrannosaur, with our Eddie Marsan and Olivia Colman, where there\u2019s a scene like that and it\u2019s so powerful and it\u2019s stayed with me my whole life.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are certain moments where those kinds of scenes can be catalysts for change or for a conversation.\u201d<\/p> James went on to explain that she worked closely with director Otto Bathurst (Peaky Blinders<\/a>), as well as intimacy coordinators, to execute the scene in a way that was \u201csensitive\u201d and not \u201cgratuitous\u201d.<\/p>\n \u201cThere were obviously intimacy coordinators. I think every job with any intimacy needs them these days. I think it\u2019s an essential part of the crew. They were amazing,\u201d she continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI was adamant that I wanted no skin on display and, after every take, they would come up to me and say, \u2018There\u2019s that much ankle\u2026\u2019 They were really on it because I don\u2019t need this to be sexualised.<\/p>\n \u201cI just want it to be brutal and horrible and as true to the situation as it can be. It\u2019s not filmed in a way that\u2019s really gratuitous. A lot of it is blurry, it\u2019s not very long. I think you get the horror.\u201d<\/p>\n James also revealed that a duty of care was afforded to the wider crew, who were \u201cwarned\u201d of the scene\u2019s scheduling and not required to be on set for filming if they didn\u2019t feel \u201ccomfortable\u201d with its content.<\/p>\n The actor, who has previously appeared in Michaela Coel\u2019s I May Destroy You and Lesley Manville\u2019s I Am Maria, said she felt \u201cjustified\u201d doing the scene due to the ongoing prevalence of rape and sexual assault in the modern day.<\/p>\n James added: \u201cI do think you can justify seeing it in this story because it was a huge part of society at that time\u2026 It\u2019s still such an issue today.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s still a massive problem in our society, like the Me Too movement is helping to bring to light in our industry.<\/p>\n \u201cIn all realms of life, it\u2019s still a huge issue, so I think if we just pretend it\u2019s not part of society, then there\u2019s an issue there because it is still very much\u2026 My hope is that it can be somewhat of a catalyst for conversation.\u201d<\/p>\n All episodes of The Winter King are available now on ITVX, with the companion podcast (available on all platforms) providing interviews with the cast and crew that take fans inside the production and the world of the show.<\/p>\n You can find help and support for the topics raised by visiting Rape Crisis<\/a>.<\/em><\/p> ![\"Simon](\"https:\/\/images.immediate.co.uk\/production\/volatile\/sites\/3\/2023\/12\/simon-merrells-gundleus-winter-king-45f7e2c.jpg?quality=90&resize=620%2C413\" "\\"simon-merrells-gundleus-winter-king\\"\/")
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