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Keeley Hawes stirs up trouble as a brazen redhead while filming JK Rowling's The Casual Vacancy in England

Published: 23:42 EST, 2 September 2014 | Updated: 03:20 EST, 3 September 2014

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Keeley Hawes plays bored wife Samantha Mollison who covets a seat on the parish council in the forthcoming BBC/HBO three-part series based on JK Rowling's novel The Casual Vacancy.

The 38-year-old actress, who's usually a brunette, looked like she had something up her sleeve as she filmed scenes as a saucy redhead in the Cotswold market town of Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England on Tuesday.

Keeley, who has starred in Ashes To Ashes, Spooks and Line Of Duty, slipped into character with the help of an oddly matched outfit consisting of light blue jeans, a mosaic-print top, a fur-trimmed grey jacket and fawn-coloured boots.

Brazen: Keeley Hawes slipped into character as Samantha Mollison to film scenes for the BBC/HBO adaptation of JK Rowling's novel The Casual Vacancy in Minchinhampton, Gloucestershire, England on Tuesday

With a steely gaze over her shoulder, Keeley stepped into the street while clutching a cell phone.

Also on the set was Sir Michael Gambon who plays Howard Mollison, the owner of a village deli in the supposedly idyllic village of Pagford, which turns out to be a cesspool of shenanigans as the villagers fight for the spot on the parish council.

The 73-year-old actor - who appeared in all but the first two Harry Potter films as Dumbledore, replacing the late Richard Harris - looked casually dapper in a tan suit, blue shirt and cobalt-blue tie and brown loafers as he padded down the quaint street.

Tricks: As readers of Rowling's Harry Potter follow-up know, Samantha has a few tricks up her sleeve

Flashy dresser: Keeley's character is bored with her husband Miles and suffers from bad taste in clothes as well apparently

What she wants: Keeley's character Samantha covets a seat on the parish council in the fictional town of Pagford but then so does everyone else

Sir Michael took an opportunity to smoke a cigarette during one break, his bushy eyebrowed eyes squinting in the muted sunshine.

Hetty Banes-Russell was all dolled up with curlers in her big hair, practicing her placid smile with perfection.

Hetty plays Howard’s business partner Maureen Lowe, and she wore a black pencil skirt, polka dot blouse and pink cardigan that brought out the white of her short hair.

Break: Sir Michael Gambon, who plays Howard Mollison, had time for a smoke

Looking dapper: The 73-year-old actor enjoyed a short stroll down the quaint town street

Waiting for a cue: The veteran actor, who played Dumbledore in all but two Harry Potter movies, stood by and waited to be called to the camera in his next JK Rowling adventure

Pink lady: Hetty Banes-Russell, who plays Howard's business partner Maureen Lowe, was all dolled up with big white hair and polka dots

Pink lipstick, exaggerated brows and blue eye shadow made up the rest of Hetty's look.

Keeley Forsyth, who plays drug addict and prostitute Terri Weedon, stood still in her costume of denim skirt and red top as make-up people applied bruises and other sores to her arms.

Rory Kinnear, who recently starred in the HBO horror series Penny Dreadfall, plays Barry Fairbrother, a member of the parish council whose death sets off the dramatic plot.

Set stroll: Hetty sported curlers in her hair and a warm wrap at one point during the day while Rory Kinnear, who plays Barry Fairbrother, looked casual in shorts and red sweat jacket

Check it out: Rory Kinnear and Keeley Forsyth, who plays drug addict-prostitute Terri Weedon, watched the drama unfold

Not as painful as it looks: Skilled make-up technicians applied sores and bruises to Keeley Forsyth's skin to make her look convincing as a drug addict

That might have explained why Kinnear was looking terribly serious as he crossed the set on a break, wearing cargo shorts, trainers and a red sweat shirt.

The mini-series will also star Julia McKenzie as Howard's wife Shirley and Simon McBurney as deputy headteacher Cubby Wall.

The Casual Vacancy was Rowling's first novel following her wildly successful Harry Potter series, and was the first targeted at an adult readership.

Rowling's book was first optioned by BBC One in the UK in 2012, but only started production once HBO signed up to co-produce the series for the US too.