'Sue Ellen' shocked by Dallas love

Dallas star Linda Gray has admitted she was always bowled over by how much people loved the show.

Linda played Sue Ellen in the original 1980s Texas-set series, and returned for the show’s recent revamp, but said that she could never believe how loved it was by fans.

Talking about working on the hit show, she said: “Oh it was really lovely, extraordinary. As an actor, when you have those great moments, they’re the ones that are locked in your being forever.”

Of its success, Linda added: “I was very surprised. We were just doing these crazy things, being these eccentric Texans, having no concept that around the world, people were enthralled by it.

“I think you guys [in the UK] were the biggest fans of any country. You so appreciated everything we did, it was wonderful. Again, we were in California in a film studio, having no concept of the enormity of the filming we were doing.”

Linda also said she had been sad when the reboot came to an end: “But you don’t dwell on it. You’re sad, but it’s part of being an actor. You become a family, and when that family dissipates, you have to go back to doing your own thing.

“There’s a sadness that you don’t see them every day or afterwards for dinner. But everyone goes off to do something else and you cheer them on, and then you meet again six months, a year, five years later, and you connect again.”

Linda is currently in the UK for a panto role, which is a new experience for her.

She said: “I love it! I always love coming back here, and now I’m doing pantomime. I play the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and it’s a delicious role. I couldn’t ask for anything better. It’s my first time [doing panto] and I’m really enjoying every moment of it.”

:: Dallas is on every weekday throughout January on CBS Drama. Cinderella runs at the New Wimbledon Theatre until January 11.

'Sue Ellen' shocked by Dallas love