Brenda Blethyn is set to retire her iconic role as DCI Vera Stanhope, having portrayed the beloved character for 14 remarkable years.
The esteemed actress embarked on her journey with ITV's hit series Vera in 2011 and has expressed that it was a "joy from beginning to end."
In a heartfelt statement regarding her departure, the 78 year old shared: "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."
Last year, speaking to the Mirror, Brenda hinted at the possibility of leaving due to the gruelling filming schedule. She recounted: "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."
As she prepares for her poignant farewell, The Mirror reflects on Brenda Blethyn's life beyond the camera....
Who is Brenda Blethyn?
Brenda Blethyn, a British actress born and raised in Ramsgate, Kent, was born in February 1946 as the youngest of nine children. Her mother, Louisa, worked as a maid while her father, William, was a chauffeur who had been a mechanic before World War II.
Her parents introduced her to the world of acting by taking her to the cinema during her childhood. She participated 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.
She won the London Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress in 1980 for her performance in Nell Dunn's play Steaming. This led to her first on-screen role in the play Grown Ups, part of the BBC's Playhouse series, directed by Mike Leigh.
She went on to star in various TV shows and films, including Yes Minister, Roald Dahl's The Witches, and Joe Wright's Oscar-nominated production of Pride and Prejudice. It has been since 2011, that Blethyn has starred in ITV's Vera.
For her role as Cynthia Rose Purley in the 1996 drama Secrets and Lies, she won Best Actress at Cannes, a BAFTA, and a Golden Globe, and received an Oscar nomination for Best Actress.
In the 2003 New Year Honours, she was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for services to drama.
Is Brenda Blethyn married?
Brenda, who has been married twice, first walked down the aisle with graphic designer Alan James Blethyn in 1964 at the tender age of 19. Before her marriage, she had a rather protected upbringing, especially in romantic matters.
Speaking to The Guardian in 2013, she said: "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 ended after nine years when Alan reportedly fell for someone else. Despite the split in 1973, Brenda chose to keep his surname as her professional moniker, discarding her birth name, Brenda Bottle.
Despite the heartbreak, Brenda spoke warmly of her ex-husband, stating: "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."
She later began a relationship with British art director Michael Mayhew in 1975. After a long-standing partnership, which could be described as a 35-year engagement, they decided to get hitched in 2010, concluding it was 'the sensible thing to do'.
In a candid chat with Radio Times back in 2021, Brenda revealed: "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 also imparted her insights on what makes a marriage thrive, having once humorously observed that she and her husband Michael have 'so little in common'.
"In a conversation with Mail Online in 2014, Brenda shared: "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 and her other half, Michael, primarily reside in Kent, where the acclaimed actress often finds herself away for extended periods while filming Vera in the North East of England, as production takes place in Newcastle upon Tyne and across Northumberland. The pair share their Kentish abode with their cherished cockapoo, Jack.
Additionally, the couple owns a property in London, and during lockdown, Michael found himself staying in the city, separated from Brenda. She has 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.
