Continuing our string of interviews from the Dallas, Texas set of Dallas, we now share our video interview with Linda Gray, the actress who brings the legendary Sue Ellen Ewing [back] to life more than 35 years after she made her first appearance on the show. While a strong female character with many accomplishments, Sue Ellen is also a character who has many flaws that she faces head-on.
“I think flaws are all a part of what makes us all individuals,” Gray admitted about Sue Ellen in general, leading into the woman that she is today. “I think all of those wonderful life experiences are what make you who you are today – good, bad, or indifferent. So, I think that dear, beloved Sue Ellen Ewing, whom I adore, she’s used all of those things, and sometimes she uses them for growth. Sometimes a little slippage. I call it ‘surfing.’ I feel like we’re all on a surf board, and sometimes we go dipping down, sometimes we’re up hereā¦ I felt that in the Eighties she was the most interesting female character on television, because you never knew what she was going to do. And now, in 2014, the writers – God bless them all, I love them – they have continued that. You don’t know what she’s going to do, how she’s going to react, what she’s going to do with that dreaded son of hers.”
One challenge that Sue Ellen will face beyond conflicts with her son is the temptation of alcohol – something Sue Ellen faced many times in the show’s original run. “We are in the business of entertainment,” Linda said when asked about the situation. “People say ‘well, why is she drinking?’ And I remind people that we have a staff of writers – beyond brilliant, a little dysfunctionalā¦ we think ‘where did they come up with this? This is a great idea!’ We flip through the pages about a week before, and when I saw that first line stage direction ‘Sue Ellen pours a drink and takes it,’ my eyes were like this [bugged out]. I was like ‘what? NOOOO! We thought she was finished!’ But then I took a step back, walked around my kitchen, and said ‘whoa.’ Got a cup of tea, kept reading the script, and I thought ‘that’s when she would have taken that drink, after the love of her life has passed.’ I talked to a couple of my friends who were in the program, and they said ‘Yep. That’s when it would happen.’ So, we go on.”
More interview content can be read below this video
Linda Gray refused to address any rumors about a storyline involving Sue Ellen escaping a fire in the new Dallas Season 3, but she did say that she “adores” the new TNT network promos which involve oil and fire. “They were sexy and hot, and I think they did that to say ‘okay. Get ready, turn up the heat, turn up the volume, because the Ewings are back!’ It was very well done. Oil and fireā¦ yeah! What’s happening! And it is happening. It amps up. This is seatbelt time. Just when you think you’ve figured something out, forget it! We can’t even figure it out. Patrick and I call each other, ‘did you know this was gonna happen?’ It’s nuts! Everybody is not what you see,” she teased.
Come back tomorrow and within the coming week for more Dallas interviews, and don’t miss the season premiere Monday, February 24 on TNT! You can also view more topics being discussed by Ms. Gray in the video posted above. Enjoy!
Disclaimer: Travel arrangements for our Dallas coverage were provided by Warner Bros. Television
