Sober Sue Ellen’s the boss now

Larry Hagman as the ruthless JR Ewing with Linda Gray as his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen in Dallas

Larry Hagman as the ruthless JR Ewing with Linda Gray as his long-suffering wife Sue Ellen in Dallas

Published Aug 2, 2011

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Playing Sw’ellen, as the hard-drinking wife of JR was known, Linda Gray became the “face” of downtrodden wives everywhere.

But Sue Ellen Ewing is now a “female powerhouse”, according to the actress. Gray, 70, who could pass for a woman 20 years her junior, said: “I wouldn’t return unless Sue Ellen got a fair shot. I wanted the new Sue Ellen to be a woman for the modern age.

“There is no drinking, thank God. The new Sue Ellen has taken over from JR as the real power in the Ewing family. The difference between Dallas then and now is that women have progressed.

“When I started I was the pretty thing in the corner who never said a thing. I built a career out of being a drunk but I said I wouldn’t come back unless this role was meaty. This is a dream job and Sue Ellen is a dream character. She is powerful now and will take no nonsense, from JR or Bobby or her son, no one.”

Gray added: “Apart from Helen Mirren I don’t know any other actress of a certain age who is working. I am grateful every day that I have a job.

“I work out, eat healthily and smile. Dallas is a crazy family but when I met Larry and Patrick again on the set I gave them a big hug. I felt as if I had come home.”

As someone who barely drinks, Gray had fake alcohol in the original series, while Hagman downed the real thing. She said: “They would make warm ice tea for whiskey or warm water for vodka. Occasionally I’d get warm fizzy water with a cherry in for a cocktail.

“I told the producers, ÒSue Ellen is sober this time around or I won’t do it.”

“I’ve spent my life with people thinking I’m a drunk. But I was just acting!” - Daily Mail

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