Sister Veronica's Emotional Departure from Nonnatus House
The latest series of BBC's beloved period drama Call the Midwife has delivered one of its most heart-wrenching storylines yet, focusing on Sister Veronica's profound personal crisis. As the drama, now set in 1971 during its fifteenth series, unfolds, viewers have witnessed the nun's growing anguish about her life's purpose and her secret longing for motherhood.
A Nun's Confession and Departure
In emotional scenes that aired recently, Sister Veronica returned from accompanying baby Christopher to Hong Kong for medical treatment and requested a private meeting with Sister Julienne at Nonnatus House. During this charged conversation, the nun revealed her increasing unhappiness and intention to potentially leave both her religious vows and her midwifery duties.
"I have been feeling increasingly unhappy," Sister Veronica confessed, to which Sister Julienne responded with a reminder about their work being about divine will rather than personal happiness. This exchange prompted Sister Veronica's powerful declaration: "I can't keep on giving and not counting the cost any longer."
In a symbolic moment, she removed her wimple, exposing her hair for the first time, and announced she had permission to take six weeks away to decide her future. Now going by her birth name Beryl, she received comfort from Shelagh Turner, who had herself left the order years earlier to start a family.
The Actress Behind Sister Veronica
Sister Veronica is portrayed by Rebecca Gethings, a 50-year-old English actress who joined the cast in Series 12 back in 2023. Born in Canada but raised in Berkshire, UK, Gethings studied drama at the Webber Douglas Academy and began her career in theatre, including a West End production of Vassa.
Extensive Television and Film Career
While many viewers recognize her as the compassionate nun, Gethings has an extensive acting portfolio spanning decades. Her television credits include notable roles as Queen Eleanor in The Serpent Queen, Helen Hatley in The Thick of It, Dawn in Not Going Out, and Lizzie in Extras, along with a guest appearance in EastEnders in 2001.
Her film career includes appearances in Casino Royale and The Critic, but one of her most memorable roles came in 2015 when she played PR manager Miriam Clark in Ricky Gervais' film David Brent: Life on the Road – a performance that many fans have forgotten amidst her more recent dramatic work.
Personal Life: Wedding Drama and Family
In June 2025, Gethings married her long-time partner Tom Brass, an animation director, in an intimate East London ceremony. The couple, who are parents to two children, celebrated their union with Gethings opting for a distinctive pink dress after a wedding dress disaster.
The Wedding Dress Catastrophe
The actress shared the amusing story on the Call the Midwife Instagram page, revealing she had purchased a simple white summer dress online for their low-key wedding. "It was then that disaster struck!" she explained. The dress arrived during a rainstorm while she was at work, and when her babysitter went to retrieve it, she found the rain-soaked parcel had completely disintegrated behind the bin.
Thankfully, the show's costume designer Justine Luxton and her assistant Anna Laflin came to the rescue, creating a beautiful new dress from coral fabric that Gethings had selected. The actress shared her joy on Instagram with a caption that read: "I do, he do, and we very much did!"
What's Next for Sister Veronica?
As Call the Midwife continues to air on Sunday evenings at 8pm on BBC One and iPlayer, viewers remain captivated by Sister Veronica's storyline. Will Beryl return to Nonnatus House after her six-week absence, or has she permanently left the order to pursue her dream of motherhood? The character's journey continues to resonate with audiences, highlighting the complex choices women faced in the changing social landscape of early 1970s Britain.
Rebecca Gethings' nuanced portrayal has brought depth to a character grappling with faith, duty, and personal desire, making Sister Veronica one of the most compelling figures in the long-running drama's recent history.
