Ben Aldridge has blasted criticism of Michelle Keegan for looking too glamourous in ‘Our Girl’.
The former ‘Coronation Street’ actress came under fire from a section of social media users last week after she reprised her role as gutsy army medic Georgie Lane in the BBC One drama, but Ben – who plays Captain James in the show – insists the disapproval is "unfair" and sexist.
Speaking on ITV’s ‘Lorraine’, he said: "I think it’s unfair. No one is criticising the boys for being too good looking.
"Also, there are people that take pride in their appearance that are in the army, we met women that don’t look dissimilar to Michelle.
"She doesn’t wear make-up on set. She’s literally getting sweat and mud sprayed onto her."
Michelle has learnt a lot about weapons and medical skills since she joined the show in 2016, and the ‘Tina and Bobby’ actress revealed she and her co-stars are even taught how to stand properly by "strict" military advisers.
She told the Daily Star newspaper: "I learned a lot of medical aspects of the job. And also the army side as well – infantry skills, how to load a weapon, weapon drills, how to carry your kit the right way.
"You learn a lot in a short space of time.
"When we’re filming, there’s military advisers all around us and if we are not doing something correctly, even standing correctly, they will be over to show us how to do it right.
"It is quite strict but it’s fun."
Michelle’s intense role has given her a thirst to try out for more drama parts in the future.
She added: "I’d love to do more action roles. I really enjoy that aspect of the job.
"Filming ‘Our Girl’ is very intense and hard work. The heat and the fact you’re playing a woman in the military, and you’re wearing the Army fatigues, that can be a struggle.
"But it’s also an amazing experience and I was very lucky to have done what I did."
Ben Aldridge blasts Michelle Keegan criticism
