A touch of Hollywood glamour rubbed off on Ebbw Vale Innovation Centre when it was used as the Wales base for a new TV series starring Kate Beckinsale.

And two UK Steel Enterprise administrators even got their own little taste of movie heaven when they played patient extras in the filming of The Widow.

Beckinsale stars as a widow who investigates after her husband dies in a plane crash in South Africa where he has been working. Three years later she receives a phone call to say he is still alive and sets out to find the truth.

Part of the filming for the eight-part series was done in Tredegar and Brynmawr in Blaenau Gwent last month.

EVIC is owned and run by Tata Steel subsidiary UK Steel Enterprise.

Gail Hannam and Kim Robinson, administrators for UK Steel Enterprise at EVIC, were brought in as extras for the day’s filming in Wales, while the centre was used for Adamaarku Productions Ltd to base their admin, wardrobe and make-up departments.

“It was very lucky for us,” said Gail. “We played patients waiting in a doctor’s surgery when Kate Beckinsale comes in for an appointment.

“We had a fab day talking to all the other extras who were sent through an agency in Cardiff (where a few of them are regulars in Casualty which is filmed there).

“We learnt a lot about the film industry,” said Gail.

She said Kim and her were given a trailer to wait in until they were needed for filming and they were also treated to a two-course lunch from the catering trailer.

They were also transported by minibus to the filming location which was kept secret to avoid fans gathering to catch a glimpse of the Hollywood star.

‘It was very exciting. We can’t wait to see the series on ITV when it comes out now,” said Gail.