Vera icon on new A Woman of Substance role: ‘It’s quite nice to take the hat and mac off!’

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I’ve been such a fan of Brenda Blethyn as Vera for fourteen years! Watching her brilliantly figure out who committed the crimes and piece together all the clues has been amazing. Now, I’m excited to see her take on a completely new challenge and a different kind of role on television. It’s going to be wonderful to see what she does next!

After briefly appearing in the film Dragonfly, the actress is now leading a new television series called A Woman of Substance.

This historical drama tells the story of Emma Harte, who rose from being a poor servant to a very wealthy and successful businesswoman. Jessica Reynolds, known for her role in House of Guinness, plays Emma in her youth, and Brenda Blethyn portrays her in later life.

During a Q&A after a screening of the series, Blethyn discussed her new role and how it felt different from playing Vera. She said it was refreshing to not have to wear the hat and coat, and that she really enjoyed the change.

She continued, saying the filming experience was really enjoyable. After playing the character Vera for 14 years, it was exciting to take on a new role. She praised the work of the designers and makeup artists, and mentioned she’d taken a few years off after finishing with Vera. She’d done another project, Dragonfly, in between, but was delighted to be asked to do this one so soon after.

Everyone recognizes Vera with her signature raincoat and hat, but Brenda Blethyn is trading that look in for something much more glamorous in her new role as ‘A Woman of Substance.’

Okay, so I just finished reading the details on this new series, and it sounds like a real saga! It’s based on Barbara Taylor Bradford’s popular novel, and it follows the incredible life of Emma Harte. We’re talking six decades of story here, starting with her as a poor servant girl in Yorkshire back in the early 1900s and ending with her as a seriously powerful businesswoman in the 1970s. It’s a classic rags-to-riches tale, and I’m already intrigued to see how they bring that journey to the screen.

Abandoned and heartbroken after her wealthy lover rejects her when she becomes pregnant, Emma dedicates her life to getting revenge on the family who wronged her. Over the years, through both joyful and devastating experiences – including love, loss, and the chaos of war – she steadily gains influence, cleverly defeats her enemies, and ultimately forges her own path in life.

As Emma nears her 80th birthday in the 1970s, a family betrayal puts all her life’s work at risk.

In a recent interview, Brenda Blethyn explained what drew her to the role, saying she particularly admired Emma Harte’s strength and strong work ethic. Blethyn related to this because she was raised with the belief that you have to work hard to achieve your goals – a value instilled in her as a child.

As a film fan, I was really struck by Emma’s journey. It couldn’t have been easy for her to achieve what she does, she’s incredibly resilient. People judge her for prioritizing work, but honestly, at any level of life, you have to provide for your family. You have to work to survive, to make things happen, and she simply did what needed to be done. It felt really relatable, seeing her navigate that struggle.

After playing Vera for so many years, it was a fun change to get dressed up in some nice clothes!

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A Woman of Substance will premiere on Wednesday 11 and Thursday 12 March at 9pm on Channel 4.

Don’t miss ‘A Woman of Substance’! Add it to your watchlist on the TopMob: What to Watch app. Download the app today for daily TV recommendations and exclusive content.

Authors

Morgan CormackDrama Writer

Morgan Cormack writes about TV and streaming drama for TopMob. Before that, she was an Entertainment Writer at Stylist. She also has experience in content marketing and freelancing, and holds a BA degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-13 13:36