It's a far cry from Sue Ellen! Dallas star Linda Gray swaps Hollywood for chilly Merseyside as she films Hollyoaks scenes in two coats

By Ellie Genower For Mailonline

Published: 07:51 EST, 11 January 2017 | Updated: 02:30 EST, 12 January 2017

She recently surprised soap fans by taking on a role in teen soap Hollyoaks, making a brief first appearance as glamorous matriarch Tabitha Maxwell-Brown in November.

And now, Dallas star Linda Gray has been filming scenes in chilly Merseyside after jetting in from her Los Angeles home.

The 76-year-old actress appeared to be taking the wintry January temperatures rather badly as she was spotted bundled up in two coats.

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Bundled up: Linda Gray was spotted filming Hollyoaks scenes in Merseyside on Tuesday 

Dressed in a padded grey coat over another chic black jacket and black suit, the star, who played troubled Sue Ellen in the 1980s soap, kept her feet warm in light brown Ugg style boots. 

The glamorous eighties star was spotted carrying a plate wrapped in tin foil while filming scenes outside a church in Rainhill, Merseyside. 

She joined fellow Hollyoaks stars Sophie Porley who plays her on-screen granddaughter Ellie Nightingale and Lysette Anthony who stars as her daughter Marnie.

Chilly debut: The 76-year-old star was well wrapped up in a padded grey jacket, tights and UGG style boots 

Different role: Linda said she hoped her character would 'shake things up' a bit in the soap 

Linda made her Hollyoaks debut back in November when Tabby's daughter Marnie called her at her home across the pond.

Marnie found herself in financial trouble after investing in a property development scam and the only person who could bail her out was her mother. 

However, when Marnie's son James invited Tabby over to the UK, Marnie worried at her reaction to learning she had got back with ex-husband, Mac Nightingale. 

Screen granddaughter: Sophie Porley (Ellie Nightingale)was among the stars filming with Linda in Merseyside

Glammed up: Lysette Anthony, who plays Marnie Nightingale, also joined the shoot 

Purple patch: Ellie sported a long padded jacket over slim-fitting black jeans 

Making an impression: The Nightingale family made their debut back in 2015 

Talking about her Hollyoaks role, Linda said, 'I'm thrilled to be going from one iconic series to another. Hollyoaks viewers are going to love it when Tabby whips up a storm just like Sue Ellen did.

'Hollyoaks have wonderful producers and they invited me over and when I saw some of the episodes, I said, "perfect, sign me up!" I have to go in and just shake it up a little.'

She explained about her character: 'She needs heavy duty, massive amounts of therapy, otherwise we love her. She's a charmer!'  

Hollyoaks newbie: The famed star - who became a household name following Dallas- opened up about her C4 character last year

We are family: She first appeared on the soap back in November when Tabby's daughter Marnie Nightingale called her at her home across the pond

Reunited: Linda looked typically glamorous glam in scenes where her character met up with family including granddaughter Ellie

Hollyoaks executive producer, Bryan Kirkwood added: 'When we came to discuss who could possibly play Marnie's mother the list was very small. 

'Lysette Anthony has fast become a fabulous soap b***h so having Linda Gray play her mother, Tabitha is the perfect fit.'  

However, Linda admitted she'd initially found it hard to understand her co-stars' Northern accents. 

Back in the day: Linda as the troubled Sue Ellen on Dallas - pictured in 1979 

Back in the day: The actress, 76 played the wife of Larry Hagman's infamous character JR Ewing in the 1980s series

Appearing on Good Morning Britain last year, she said: 'It was a little hard to understand the very first day.

'I was like, "excuse me, pardon me, could you say that again?" Then I was right there...'

Linda played JR Ewing's (Larry Hagman) troubled wife in the U.S. soap from 1978 to 1989 and then again in 1991.

She also appeared in the rebooted version of the show in 2012 alongside Hagman and Patrick Duffy, although Hagman sadly passed away the same year.  

Reboot: Linda took part in the TNT version of Dallas alongside Hagman and Patrick Duffy, with the show airing in the U.S. back in 2012

 

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