Lady Hamilton delivers a stinging slap to love rival on new ITV drama The Halcyon as actress Olivia Williams reveals the brutal blow was 'real'
It's been herald as 'the new Downtown Abbey' on ITV.
And it appears that The Halcyon is every bit, if not more stirring than its period drama predecessor as central character Lady Hamilton, played by Olivia Williams, cuts people down to size, not with her words but rather action as she delivers a brutal slap to her late husband's mistress, Charity Lambert.
The eye-opening moment follows on from the series opener last week where viewers saw her husband Lord Hamilton suddenly die, leaving his wife to become the sole owner of illustrious The Halcyon hotel.
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Brutal: Lady Hamilton, played by Olivia Williams, delivers a brutal slap to her late husband's mistress, Charity Lambert on Monday night's episode of The Halcyon
In a scene set to air on Monday night's episode, the scorned widow holds no punches when she shows Lambert how she truly feels about their illicit rendezvous, delivering a devstating blow straight across her love rival's face.
Although set in a fictional London hotel during the Second World War, the latest jaw-dropping moment was all too real for actress Charity Wakefield - who was at the receiving end of the smack.
Speaking to The Mail On Sunday, leading lady Olivia said: 'Charity bravely said we should go for one real slap, instead of faking it, and my hand connected with her more effectively than I intended...
'She was extremely good-natured about it and said it didn't hurt that much, but the crew were shocked.'
Moving on: The eye-opening moment follows on from the series opener last week, where viewers saw her husband Lord Hamilton suddenly die, leaving his wife to become the sole owner of illustrious The Halcyon hotel
Savage: The scorned widow holds no punches when she shows Lambert how she truly feels about their illicit rendezvous, delivering a devstating blow straight across her love rival's face
Brave: Olivia - who plays Lady Hamilton - admitted actress Charity said to go for 'one real slap' while shooting the scene
Now filing a void for the period drama lovers amongst us, the 48-year-old star - who shot to fame in 1999's The Sixth Sense - admitted she hopes the show delivers some 'relief' to those missing Downton.
She explained: 'If we are plugging the Downton gap, then I hope we are providing a public service and much needed relief for those in "Downtown distress"'.
While Olivia revealed she welcomes comparisons of her character to Maggie Smith's frosty matriarch Dowager Countess in the award-winning series, that came to an end in March 2016.
Relief: The 48-year-old star - who shot to fame in 1999's The Sixth Sense - admitted she hopes the show delivers some 'relief' to those missing Downton
Comparisons: Olivia revealed she welcomes comparisons of her character to Maggie Smith's frosty matriarch Dowager Countess (pictured right) in the award-winning series
She added: 'Anything I have done that gives rise to a comparison with Dame Maggie is the result of an unashamed attempt to learn from her impeccable example.'
Aside from comparisons, the slap won't be the only fiery display viewers should expect of the upcoming series.
Williams admitted viewers will see a showdown for the ages between Lady Hamilton and hotel manager Richard Garland, played by Steven Macintosh, who kept her late husband's adultery under lock and key.
Showdown: Williams admitted viewers will see a showdown for the ages between Lady Hamilton and hotel manager Richard Garland, played by Steven Macintosh, who kept her late husband's adultery under lock and key
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