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VICTORIA Smurfit is worlds away from her Ballykissangel days in new steamy Disney Plus series The Rivals.

Fans will remember the Irish actress as barmaid Orla O'Connell in the beloved BBC drama, which ended in 1999.

Victoria Smurfit is best known for playing Orla O’Connell on Ballykissangel
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Victoria Smurfit is best known for playing Orla O’Connell on BallykissangelCredit: World - BBC
The actress doesn't look like she's aged a day in a trailer for upcoming drama The Rivals
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The actress doesn't look like she's aged a day in a trailer for upcoming drama The RivalsCredit: Disney

Now Victoria's latest role sees her stepping into the shoes of Maud O’Hara in the highly-anticipated upcoming show.

Her character is a bohemian former actress, and wife to journalist and TV presenter Declan O’Hara (Aidan Turner).

still sports the same youthful glow that she did while playing Orla, and is set to play an even sexier part this time.

The trailer shows Victoria in a daring emerald green gown with a thigh-high split.

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In the clip Maud is seen commanding attention at what seems to be a Christmas party.

Her husband looks on with admiration while Danny Dyer, playing self-made electronics millionaire Freddie Jones, cheers her on in a burlesque-inspired scene.

Later, Maud flaunts her flexibility by raising her leg high to reveal a red ribbon hanging from her stiletto.

The exact release date remains under wraps, but the trailer hints at a compelling series ahead.

The official Disney+ synopsis sets the stage, saying: "The story is set against the backdrop of the drama, excess, and shocking antics of the power-grabbing social elite of 1980s England.

"In the fictional county of Rutshire, a long-standing rivalry between two powerful men is about to boil over.

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"Alex Hassell plays the dangerously charismatic Rupert Campbell-Black, a dashing ex-Olympian and Tory MP.

"David Tennant stars as Rupert’s ambitious neighbour, Lord Tony Baddingham, the controller of Corinium Television.

"Their power struggle threatens to erupt as they clash over the future of Corinium."

Sex and scandal are set to be at the heart of the series with the show's trailer featuring a series of eye-popping and suggestive moments.

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