EXCLUSIVE: Desperate Housewives star Vanessa Williams hints at potential return for much-discussed reboot

The Mirror caught up with Desperate Housewives icon Vanessa Williams ahead of this year's Pride of Britain Awards, who revealed her thoughts on a potential return to Wisteria Lane

Desperate Housewives icon Vanessa Williams spoke with the Mirror at the Pride of Britain Awards about her time on one of the most popular TV shows of all time - including her thoughts on the long-discussed potential reboot.

Looking as magnificently glamorous as you might expect, the former Miss America winner cut a striking figure on the red carpet in a suit of sparkling purple. Her character Renee Perry, the only housewife to rival Gabrielle Solis (Eva Longoria) in the designer shopping spree department, would undoubtedly approve.

The casting of Renee, in 2010, came at a time of transition for Vanessa, now 61. Ugly Betty had just been cancelled, marking the end of an era for fashionistas who couldn't get enough of Wilhelmina Slater - the sharp-tongued supermodel turned MODE editor-in-chief.

It wasn't long before Vanessa was snapped up, however, with Desperate Housewives creator Marc Cherry quickly realising he'd found himself a new Wisteria Lane troublemaker.

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Vanessa told the Mirror: "Well, I came in for seasons seven and eight. Loved working with all the girls. I got the job after Ugly Betty was cancelled in 2010, and I was doing Broadway, doing a show called Sondheim on Sondheim. And Marc Cherry - the creator of Desperate Housewives - is a huge Sondheim fan.

"Not only a fan, but every episode is named after a Sondheim song. So he came to see me, and after the show, I got a phone call, and he said: 'I'd love to have you join my show'. So he saw me doing Sondheim and that gave him the idea to invite me to join them."

And so it was that Renee strutted onto the lane like a (second) tornado, bringing a dash of waspishness viewers had been missing since the fatal electrocution of Edie Britt (Nicollette Sheridan) in season five. Although many would find it intimidating to enter such a well-established fictional world, Vanessa appears to have taken it in her stride, quickly establishing herself among the picket fences and twitching curtains of Fairview.

Although there have long been rumours of bad blood between cast mates behind the scenes, Vanessa's experience appears to have been a positive one - and she's still in touch with the other housewives. Vanessa revealed: "I just talked to Teri (Hatcher) two days ago."

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As for a potential reboot, a regular topic of discussion among the show's loyal fanbase, it would seem that Vanessa wouldn't necessarily be opposed. She reflected: "I don't know, when things are so successful with that initial spark, it's sometimes hard to capture lightning in a bottle again. But believe me, if the old group decided they wanted to get back together and I got a call..."

For now, however, Vanessa is keeping busy with other exciting projects and has now stepped into the burgundy heels of Miranda Priestly in the new musical adaptation of The Devil Wears Prada. It's a part that feels tailor-made for Vanessa, who can deliver a scathing barb like no other, all while looking head-to-toe fabulous.

In reality, it would seem that Vanessa may have a softer side when compared to her roster of ice-tongued characters. Before heading into this year's Pride of Britain Ceremony, she said: "I've heard I need to bring some little tissues in my purse because there's going to be tears!"

• Don't miss the Pride of Britain Awards, Thursday 24th October, 8pm ITV1 and ITVX

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