Brenda Blethyn is preparing to bid farewell to ITV’s Vera, but what are the reasons behind her departure from the popular detective drama, and what else should we know about the actress?
For a span of 14 years, DCI Vera Stanhope, portrayed by Brenda Blethyn, has captivated audiences with her distinctive approach to detective work and the intriguing cases she solves.
Regrettably, it’s time to bid adieu, as Vera’s final season premieres tonight, Wednesday, January 1, at 8pm on ITV and ITVX. Before the first two episodes air, here’s everything you need to know about Vera star Brenda Blethyn.
Large family
Actress Brenda Blethyn was Mrs Bennet in the 2005 remake of the classic film Pride and Prejudice.
(Image: UNIVERSAL PICTURES)
Born in Ramsgate, Kent, in February 1946, Blethyn was one of nine children born to parents Louisa and William. Louisa worked as a maid, while her father was a chauffeur and had been a mechanic prior to the Second World War, reports Chronicle Live.
However, financial stability was not always a given for the Bottle family, as Blethyn revealed to Great British Life. Despite this, she insisted that it didn’t always matter. “We were poor. But we didn’t know we were poor because we were rich in lots of things,” she expressed.
“Not in material things, but in other, more important things. Mum and Dad had plenty of time for us; we had to work hard and they were quite strict, we might get reprimanded and get a clout, but in equal measure, we got lots of loving, cuddles and lots of fun and games.”
Blethyn developed a passion for acting during her childhood, participating in an amateur dramatics club. She later attended the Guilford School of Acting and became a member of the Royal National Theatre.
Before Vera, she starred in numerous popular films and TV shows, including Pride and Prejudice, Roald Dahl’s The Witches, Secrets and Lies, and Yes Minister.
Marriages
Actress Brenda Blethyn has been married to her second husband Michael Mayhew since 2010.
(Image: GETTY)
The 78 year old actress married her first husband, Alan James Blethyn, in 1964 when she was just 19 years old. However, this marriage didn’t last, as she revealed to The Guardian that her ex-husband “fell for someone else,” leading to their permanent separation.
Blethyn remembered: “‘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.’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 decided not to inform her parents immediately as she wanted them to know she could “handle not being with Alan”. The Vera star later met Michael Mayhew, art director and former head of graphic design at the National Theatre.
They were engaged for an impressive 35 years before getting married in 2010. They currently live in Kent with their cockapoo Jack, although she spent extended periods in the northeast to film Vera.
Reason for leaving Vera
Earlier this year, it was confirmed that lead actress Brenda Blethyn would be departing from the hit series Vera, bringing an end to her role as the iconic DCI Vera Stanhope.
Citing the pull of family ties as a significant factor, Blethyn explained her decision to leave the show. She said: “It was a lovely summer back in 2023. And I came to realise I hadn’t had a summer with my husband for 14 years.
“Naturally, I missed my family. And my dog Jack, although he was with me in the North East, but I didn’t see him much because I was working all day. I love my Vera family, but I love my other family too.”
Reflecting on statements given to The Mirror back in 2005, Blethyn had previously shared her aspiration to settle down near the coast: “I have a home in Ramsgate and I plan to relocate there permanently. It’s so lovely waking up in the morning to the sea.”