Brenda Blethyn, the beloved British actress best known for her role as Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope in the ITV crime drama Vera, has opened up about her personal life, including a devastating split from her first husband and the unconventional secret behind her long-term relationship with her second husband.
First Marriage Ended in Heartbreak
Brenda married Alan James Blethyn in 1964 when she was just 19 years old. The marriage ended when Alan fell for someone else, leaving Brenda devastated. In an interview with The Guardian, she recalled: "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."
A 35-Year Engagement
After her first marriage ended, Brenda met Michael Mayhew, the former head of graphic design and art director at the National Theatre, in 1975. The couple were engaged for an extraordinary 35 years before finally marrying in 2010. They now live in Kent with their cockapoo Jack.
In an interview with HELLO! magazine, Brenda revealed the secret to their enduring romance: "We're still together, but he just lives upstairs." She explained that this "temporary arrangement" has "worked brilliantly" for the couple, adding: "It might be the secret, to have your own space. I've got my own space. He's always cold, and I'm always hot. I always want to watch a drama, and he wants to watch football. So, it's working well."
Career Highlights
Brenda Blethyn began her acting career at the Guildford School of Acting in her late twenties before joining the Royal National Theatre. Her feature film debut was a minor role in The Witches, followed by acclaimed performances in Secrets and Lies, Little Voice, Saving Grace, A Way of Life, Pride and Prejudice, and Atonement. On television, she has appeared in Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and Anne Frank: The Whole Story. From 2011 to 2025, she headlined Vera, and most recently starred in A Woman of Substance, a rags-to-riches tale set in Yorkshire.
