Helena Bonham Carter is all action as she rides a speed boat in Venice filming for ITV series Nolly

She’s been busy shooting scenes for a new ITV drama.

And on Tuesday, Helena Bonham Carter was all action as she took a trip on a speed boat in Venice as she filmed for her upcoming series Nolly.

The actress, 56, donned an auburn wig and stylish floral print pink dress as she transformed into the TV star to shoot in the Italian city. 

Holding a clapperboard while aboard the boat, the film star appeared to be fully in character as she took some directorial advice. 

In true character mode, Helena wore a wide brim straw hat with bow décor and a pair of Seventies style sunglasses as she portrayed English icon Noele Gordon.

Adding to the already glamorous look, she accessorised with some pearl jewllery and wore a full face of make-up for a busy day of filming. 

TV legend: Noele Gordon became the nation’s first soap queen and was adored by up to 18 million viewers in the UK for her serial role as Meg Richardson in Crossroads 

Action: Holding a clapperboard while aboard the boat, the film star appeared to be fully in character as she as she gave some directorial advice

Filming: Helena looked worlds away from her usual self as she got into character as Crossroads icon Noele Gordon during filming of the upcoming ITV drama 

On screen romance? While it’s unknown what role the handsome actor will play, at one stage the Downtown Abbey star placed his arm around Helena

Helena was also joined on board by actor Max Brown who wore a striped shirt and an oversized pair of shades on the day.

While it’s unknown what role the handsome actor will play, at one stage the Downtown Abbey star placed his arm around Helena while in character. 

While strolling around the iconic city, the pair enjoyed some downtime together as they joined tourists walking down the street.

 Filming: Helena looked worlds away from her usual self as she got into character as Crossroads icon Noele Gordon during filming of the upcoming ITV drama

Break: While strolling around the iconic city, the pair enjoyed some downtime together as they joined tourists walking down the pavement 

Lookalike: In true character mode, Helena wore a wide brim straw hat with bow décor and a pair of Seventies style sunglasses as she portrayed English icon Noele Gordon

Radiant: Helena looked stunning as she strolled through Venice while filming scenes for the new ITV drama

Gorgeous: Adding to the already glamorous look, she accessorised with some pearl jewelry and wore a full face of make-up for a busy day of filming

Co-stars: Helena was also joined on board by actor Max Brown who wore a striped shirt and an oversized pair of shades on the day

All aboard: The Sweeney Todd star looked focused as she got into character for her upcoming series 

Snap: Helena and Max took some time out and captured some images with her mobile phone

Method actress : Helena looked animated as the camera rolled while Max smiled as he watched her in character  

Three part drama Nolly, penned by Russell T Davies, will explore the all-powerful reign and fall from grace of the inimitable Noele Gordon, who died in 1985. 

She was declared the ‘Queen of the Midlands’ thanks to iconic role as Meg Mortimer in Crossroads and was the darling of the establishment until it turned on her.  

As flame-haired widow Meg in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, Noele became one of the most famous people in Britain.

Crew: The two actors took some directorial advice from a crew member as they spent the day filming on the Grand Canal 

Pose: The animated pair looked into the distance as they shot scenes on the day 

Then in 1981, at the height of the show’s success and the peak of her fame, she was axed without ceremony, without warning and with no explanation, with the soap eventually ending two years later.

With the boss’s words ‘all good things must come to an end’ ringing in her ears, Noele found herself thrown out of the show that was her life for over 18 years.

Noele, who had previously had multiple roles in the theatre before landing her part in Crossroads, played Meg from 1964 to 1981, and later returned for a two-episode stint in 1983. 

After she was dropped from the show, Noele’s ill health prevented her from accepting many more roles, and she died in 1985 at the age of 66. 

A love letter to a legend of television, and to the madcap soap she starred in, Nolly will be an entertaining ride through Noele’s most tumultuous years, and a sharp, affectionate and heart-breaking portrait of a forgotten icon.

Of the role, Helena said: ‘Noele Gordon was a fascinating, complex, brilliant and gutsy woman – none of which I knew before I read Russell T Davies’ script.

‘I’m so thrilled to help tell Nolly’s long overdue and largely forgotten story.

‘Russell’s screenplay is a work of brilliance and I hope I’ll do him and Nolly justice. I can’t wait to start.’

Exciting: As flame-haired widow Meg in the long-running soap opera Crossroads, Noele became one of the most famous people in Britain