‘Game of Thrones’ star Natalie Dormer takes on her raunchiest role yet in BBC Two’s ‘The Scandalous Lady W’ which hits screens tonight (August 17th). The period drama tells the steamy true story of 18th-century aristocrat Lady Seymour Worsley, who leaves her abusive husband to elope with his best friend, creating an early tabloid scandal in the process.

Natalie DormerNatalie Dormer stars in ‘The Scandalous Lady W’ on BBC Two

The 33 year old actress is best known for playing Margaery Tyrell on 'Game of Thrones' and Cressida in The Hunger Games Mockingjay Parts One and Two. But viewers will get to see another side of Dormer tonight in the racy drama which centres on a sex scandal which brewed long before the days of the internet and social media.

Speaking to The Independant, Dormer described Lady Seymour as her ‘heroine’, adding, “In her struggle against her husband, she didn’t just roll over. She fought him to the hilt. She had many flaws, but to me she was still heroic.”

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Although the drama might be set in the 18th century, Lady Seymour’s story should still resonate today in our modern world obsessed with celebrity and scandal. “This story was blown up in the tabloids,” Dormer explains. “The battle between Richard and Seymour can be identified as one of the first scandalous public divorce cases of the time.”

“Trying to win over public opinion and manipulate your public image for your own ends in a fight may seem like a modern phenomenon, but the trend started back then in the late 18th century,” the actress added.

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The Guardian has described ‘The Scandalous Lady W’ as ‘a disturbing tale of sex and sensibility’, while warning viewers to act like Lady W and ‘take a deep breath and firm it’ while watching.

The 90 minute drama also stars Shaun Evans as Lady Seymour’s cheating husband, Lord Worsley and Aneurin Barnard as her lover Captain George Bisset. 'The Scandalous Lady W' premieres tonight 9pm on BBC Two.