OXFORD actress Florence Pugh has said she does not expect to become a sex symbol with her upcoming spy thriller role, claiming Americans are 'scared of bums'.

The Lady Macbeth actress, a former Cokethorpe School, Wychwood School and St Edward’s School student, will feature in a John Le Carre adaption, The Little Drummer Girl.

She said the production was careful to avoid upsetting a potentially prudish American audience.

Speaking to Radio Times magazine, the 22-year-old star of the upcoming six-part spy series said: "I don't think I'm going to be an international sex symbol. I mean, I know I'm not going to be an international sex symbol.

"But there is a big potential when this series comes out, life will be different."

Oxford Mail:

She added that production was tempered to appease an international audience for the new series.

Ms Pugh said: "America is scared of bums. And nipples. We had to make sure there were no bums and nipples out. I don't know why. Such strange people.

"My parents were very cool and made sure we watched lots of European films when we grew up, so nudity has never been a problem for me, as long as it's done beautifully."

Oxford Mail:

Le Carre's The Little Drummer Girl features Pugh as a spy embroiled in 1970s Israeli espionage.

The drama opens in Germany, 1979, when a bomb explodes in Bonn, Israeli agent Martin Kurtz investigates.

It starts on Sunday at 9pm.