Brenda Blethyn lives in a separate apartment from her husband, Michael Mayhew, and she absolutely loves it. The Vera star and the art director have been together since 1975 and married since 2010, but they do not share the same living space.
Unconventional Living Arrangement
The couple resides in Ramsgate, Kent, where Blethyn occupies the downstairs flat and Mayhew lives upstairs. Speaking to The Telegraph last year, Blethyn explained how the arrangement came about. "We moved into this very nice flat in Ramsgate. And I'd be saying, 'Can I open a window, it's very hot in here?' And he'd say, 'No, it's freezing.' After a while, I said, 'Is that flat downstairs still vacant?' So I moved downstairs. It works brilliantly. We eat together. We go out together. We live together, but in different apartments."
Not a Permanent Solution
In a more recent interview with Prima, Blethyn clarified that having two apartments was not a long-term plan, but noted it has been working well. "I'm noticing more couples choosing to live like this long-term, but for us it's just until we find somewhere more suitable," she said. "The dog [Jack] is delighted because he's got two homes — although he definitely prefers being with me."
Love Story Spanning Decades
Blethyn, who was previously married to graphic designer Alan James Blethyn from 1964 to 1973, met Mayhew at the National Theatre over 50 years ago. She praised his honesty in an interview with The Guardian. "He is kind and honest – he tells the truth, even if it's what you don't want to hear, such as saying the Armani outfit I had bought to present an award at the Golden Globes in 1998 didn't suit me," she quipped. "He was right, so I bought another outfit, which was much better. He is Taurus and I'm Pisces; my dad was Pisces and my mum was Taurus. So long relationships might be something to do with the stars …"
