Why Vera icon Brenda Blethyn didn’t want to do new film Dragonfly at first – and what changed her mind

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Brenda Blethyn recently finished playing Vera in the popular ITV detective series after 14 years, and you might think she’d want a rest. However, she quickly started filming a new and very different movie just after wrapping up the show in January.

Dragonfly, a thought-provoking and emotionally resonant film, opens in UK cinemas today. It has already earned praise from critics at film festivals. The movie features Brenda Blethyn as a lonely, elderly woman facing hardship in a modern Britain that feels fractured and struggling.

The film begins with a heartwarming connection between a woman and her reclusive neighbour, portrayed by Andrea Riseborough, suggesting they’ve found comfort in each other. However, the story quickly shifts into darker territory, changing how you view their relationship.

I wasn’t initially interested in taking the role,” Blethyn said. “I told my agent to forget about it – I had just finished filming Vera and hadn’t even had a chance to unpack my bags.

At first, she was hesitant, but after her agent shared details about the project – like who else was involved – Blethyn quickly decided to accept the role.

Blethyn explained that the script was written by Paul Andrew Williams and starred Andrea Riseborough. She immediately wanted to read it, and was deeply touched by the story. She loved it so much she agreed to be involved right away. Because filming was about to begin, she had to make a decision on the spot!

I read that after Brenda Blethyn hinted she might be interested in the role, the writer and director, Williams, actually went to her house in Ramsgate to meet her. He remembered they ended up just chatting and getting to know each other over ice cream – it sounds like a really lovely, relaxed meeting!

He was telling me about meeting Brenda, and they were just sitting by the beach, chatting. Apparently, Brenda immediately seemed keen – he said she was really enthusiastic, which surprised him a bit. What struck him as really positive was that Brenda seemed like a genuinely down-to-earth person, and she clearly understood the emotional core of the character. It was a relief to hear she ‘got it,’ you know?

I don’t want to assume anything about what she’d think, but the character and the story have elements that many people could probably connect with, not just based on personal experience, but just in general about life.

The casting choices were clearly successful, and the film is already gaining recognition with award nominations. Brenda Blethyn and her co-star, Marion Riseborough, who Blethyn calls “fantastic,” jointly won a Performance Award at the Tribeca Film Festival where the film debuted in June. They’ve also been nominated together for Best Joint Performance at the upcoming British Independent Film Awards (BIFAs).

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Blethyn is thrilled with the recognition the film is receiving, and she’s especially happy that it’s resonated with audiences.

She expressed her happiness that audiences are connecting with and enjoying the film. It’s been receiving fantastic feedback and has won awards at numerous film festivals, which she finds incredibly rewarding because she’s very proud of the work.

Williams explained that when he originally wrote it, readers struggled to categorize the work because it blended too many different genres.

I believe audiences connect with the story’s overall message and characters, leading them to really think about it afterwards. People often tell me it stays with them for a long time, and they continue to discuss it, which I’m incredibly proud of. I also think the final result wouldn’t have been the same without all the experiences and contributions of everyone involved.

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2025-11-07 18:12