Brenda Blethyn has announced that she will retire her role as the beloved DCI Vera Stanhope after an impressive 14 years on screen.
Joining ITV’s hit crime series Vera back in 2011, Blethyn expressed that the experience has been “joy from beginning to end.”
The renowned actress, aged 78, shared a heartfelt goodbye, stating: “I’m sad to be saying Cheerio. But I am so proud of our achievements over the last fourteen years.”
“I’ll be forever grateful to the wonderful Ann Cleeves who created Vera, and to Elaine Collins who saw fit to cast me in the role.
“The producers, dream cast and crew have been fabulous and I’m going to miss them, but I won’t forget their huge talent, the camaraderie, laughter or kindness we shared nor the friendship of the people of the north east and our fans worldwide. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”
In a previous conversation with the Mirror, Blethyn hinted at the challenges posed by the relentless production timetable, saying, “When we finish filming, I always say, ‘I really don’t think I can do this anymore’.
“Filming usually means six months away from home and in 2022 it was the best part of 10 months. But then I have a rest, get my appetite back and change my mind.”
With the news of her departure from Vera making waves, The Mirror reflects on the esteemed actress’s life beyond the cameras.
Who is Brenda Blethyn?
Brenda Blethyn, a British actress, was born and brought up in Ramsgate, Kent. Born in February 1946, she is the youngest of nine children.
Her mother, Louisa, worked as a maid and her father, William, was a chauffeur who had been a mechanic before the Second World War.
Her parents introduced Brenda to the world of acting by taking her to the cinema during her childhood. She loved participating in an amateur dramatics club and later studied at the Guilford School of Acting.
After graduation, her career quickly took off as she secured roles on stage, including parts with the Royal National Theatre in the mid-1970s.
After winning the London Critics’ Circle Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1980 for her performance in Nell Dunn’s play Steaming, she got her first on-screen role in the play Grown Ups as part of the BBC’s Playhouse series, directed by Mike Leigh.
She went on to star in a variety of TV shows and films, including the political satire show Yes Minister, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, and Joe Wright’s Oscar-nominated production of Pride and Prejudice.
It was then in 2011 that she landed the starring role in Vera on ITV which is where Blethyn has been ever since.
She won Best Actress at Cannes, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe, and received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role as Cynthia Rose Purley in the 1996 drama Secrets and Lies.
In the 2003 New Year Honours, she was also appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama.
Is Brenda Blethyn married?
Brenda has celebrated two marriages, her first being to graphic designer Alan James Blethyn, whom she wed in 1964 at the age of 19.
In a frank 2013 interview with The Guardian, Brenda explained: “My brothers looked after me and protected me from predators so well that I was quite innocent sexually when I came to marry for the first time at 19.”
Unfortunately, the union lasted just under a decade with the couple separating after Alan fell in love with someone else.
Despite the split occurring in 1973, Brenda continued to use Blethyn, her married surname, professionally, forsaking her birth name Brenda Bottle.
Brenda bore no ill will towards Alan, admitting: “My first husband, Alan Blethyn, just fell for someone else. I was devastated when he left, but he really was a lovely fella and the other lady is nice too. It was just one of those things.”
Romance struck again when Brenda met British art director Michael Mayhew in 1975.
Their romance spanned an extensive period before they made it official; after what could only be described as a 35-year engagement, the two married in 2010, deciding that marriage would be ‘the sensible thing to do’.
In a 2021 interview with Radio Times, Brenda disclosed: “We were getting on a bit and it seemed the sensible thing to do. Neither of us were going anywhere so it just presents a problem if one of us pops our clogs.”
The actress has imparted her advice for marital bliss, revealing that despite having ‘”so little in common” with her partner Michael, their marriage thrives.
Speaking to Mail Online in 2014, Brenda expressed: “I genuinely think it’s about having our own space. We have a place on the coast in my hometown of Ramsgate in Kent, and even when we’re there we sit in separate rooms, Michael with his music in one, me with my crossword in another.”
“We have so little in common but the relationship obviously works. Michael makes me laugh like nobody else does, and I think he likes me for my honesty and my kindness.”
Where does Brenda Blethyn live?
Brenda Blethyn’s residence is primarily in Kent, which she and Michael call home.
She also often spends long periods away due to filming Vera in the North East, specifically in Newcastle upon Tyne and across Northumberland.
Their Kent abode is also where they reside with Jack, their cherished cockapoo.
The pair hold an additional property in London where Michael stayed for a period during lockdown, leading to them being temporarily separated. Brenda had previously explained, “My husband was in London and he couldn’t come down, so we were apart.”
“Apart from living in London I also have a home in Ramsgate [and] I was there gathering my last bits and pieces to take up to Newcastle with me for filming when the lockdown happened, so I couldn’t go home.”
Vera is available to watch on ITV and ITVX.
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