HOLLYWOOD star Drew Barrymore turned many heads when she turned up on Ilkley Moor in a shoot for a major new film.

The 29-year-old actress, who shot to fame as a child in Steven Spielberg's ET The Extra Terrestrial, was joined by Australian Toni Collette on the location shoot for new film Miss You Already - due for release next year.

The film tells the tale of two lifelong friends whose friendship is tested when one woman struggles to have a baby and the other finds out she has breast cancer.

The two actresses, as well as production crew, stayed at and filmed at the 13-room AA three star-rated Cow and Calf Hotel, Hnaginstone Road, close to the dramatic Cow and Calf Rocks landmark.

Manager of the Cow and Calf Hotel, Amy Proctor, confirmed the star stayed at the hotel, on Hangingstone Road, over the weekend, and has also been filming there.

Other film crew reportedly stayed at the Craiglands Hotel on Cowpasture Road.

Barrymore, who produced and starred in the Charlie's Angels film franchise, was spotted by passers-by over the weekend, and by walkers as the filming action moved onto a wet and windy Ilkley Moor itself on Monday (October 6).

The actress, who gave birth to her second daughter six months ago, was photographed sporting a fake baby bump during the shoot.

A location shoot also took place in scenic Haworth.

Stand-in doubles for the top actresses were provided by a delighted Ilkley-based casting agenct, Paula McKie, of Agency Oakroyd, who said it is the biggest production she has been involved with to date.

Mrs McKie went to visit the set and met the star.

She said: "She was smiley and very friendly. She had a photograph with some of the locals, she was really lovely."

Ilkley and Haworth's latest cinematic coup was also welcomed by director of Bradford City of Film, David Wilson.

He said the filming of Missing You Already created spin-off benefits to local businesses, with the cast and crew staying at hotels, and farmers providing sheep and trailers for location shoots.

"I'm delighted that Hollywood has come to town," said Mr Wilson. "As a region, Yorkshire is really playing to its strengths as a centre for production. Government tax incentives and Screen Yorkshire’s content fund now have a global reach and this weekend alone we have had studios from Hollywood and Bollywood making movies in the district. It's becoming a common occurrence to see 'On Location' signs around Bradford.

"Bradford City of Film is working with partners and businesses across the region and the wider UK to encourage sustainable development for the industry and ensure that we have the right people with the right skills to meet the increase in demand."