'Hollyoaks' actress reveals Eva inspiration

Actress Jennifer Metcalfe has claimed that Eva Longoria is an inspiration for her Hollyoaks character Mercedes McQueen.

Metcalfe said her role was heavily based upon the US star's performance as Gabrielle Solis in Desperate Housewives.

She told the Daily Star: "I take a lot of inspiration from Eva. I created her from a mixture of Eva and people I’ve met throughout my life.

"There’s a little bit of me in there. But only a tiny bit."

Metcalfe first appeared in the Channel 4 soap in 2006.