Brenda Blethyn Shares Candid Thoughts on Vera Departure After 14 Years
Acclaimed actress Brenda Blethyn has spoken openly about her feelings upon concluding her long-running role in the ITV crime drama Vera. After portraying the determined DCI Vera Stanhope for 14 years, starting in 2011 and finishing on January 2, 2025, with the final episode The Dark Wives, Blethyn expressed a sense of relief and excitement for new challenges.
Embracing a New Chapter with A Woman of Substance
In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk and other media outlets, while promoting her latest project, A Woman of Substance on Channel 4, Blethyn remarked, "It was nice to hang up the mac and hat. It really, really was," referencing the iconic attire of her character Vera. Her new role as business tycoon Emma Harte in the eight-episode series, adapted from Barbara Taylor Bradford's 1979 novel, marks a significant shift from the gritty crime procedural.
Blethyn, now 80 years old, praised the production team for their work on her appearance, joking that they "took a few years off" her. She highlighted the contrast between the two roles, noting the increased sophistication and glamour in A Woman of Substance compared to the down-to-earth nature of Vera.
Adjusting to a Different Set Dynamic
Reflecting on her time on Vera, Blethyn admitted to having "thrown my weight about a bit" and enjoying laughs on set, but she noted a change in behaviour for her new role. "Well, I kind of behaved myself on this [set] more, because I sort of threw my weight about a bit, you know [on Vera], and we could have a laugh now and again," she quipped. "But this is like a new thing. I didn't rule the roost on it, and so I had to behave myself. [We had] a few laughs here and there. I think we had to giggle once or twice."
She also mentioned working on another project, the film Dragonfly, between Vera and A Woman of Substance, expressing thrill at being asked to take on the latter role so soon after.
Avoiding Influence from Previous Adaptation
A Woman of Substance is the second adaptation of the story, following a 1985 version starring Hollywood legend Deborah Kerr, which remains Channel 4's highest-rated production with 13.8 million viewers for its finale. Blethyn revealed she deliberately avoided watching the earlier adaptation to prevent it from influencing her portrayal of Emma Harte.
"I knew about it. I didn't see it [at the time]. But I have bought the DVD, and I was about to watch it, and I thought, no, if I do that, I'm gonna be playing Deborah Kerr, and not playing Emma Harte. So I'm saving it," she explained, adding, "I love Deborah Kerr." The series is available for streaming on Channel 4, offering viewers a weekly broadcast of the full eight episodes.
