Vera icon Brenda Blethyn reveals big difference filming A Woman of Substance: “I didn’t rule the roost so I had to behave!”

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Brenda Blethyn, known for playing detective Vera for 14 years, is now starring in a new Channel 4 series called A Woman of Substance, a very different type of role for her.

I just finished watching the entire eight-episode series, and it’s a really interesting new adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s classic novel from 1979. The show is led by the wonderful Harriet Blethyn, and Jessica Reynolds does a fantastic job portraying a younger version of the main character, Emma Harte. You can stream all the episodes now!

Following her role on Vera, Brenda Blethyn spoke about her experience filming A Woman of Substance. During a Q&A after a screening, she explained that she was on her best behavior during this project, contrasting it with her approach to Vera, where she felt more comfortable and playful.

This was a completely new experience for me. I wasn’t in charge, so I had to be on my best behavior. It led to a few amusing moments.

Although many viewers are looking forward to seeing Blethyn return, the story primarily centers on Reynolds’s character, a younger Emma, and her struggle to start over after losing her job at Fairley Hall.

Emma is a determined woman with a plan for her future, even while facing pregnancy and seeking to settle a score with the Fairley family. We watch as she takes charge of her life and pursues both her goals and her revenge.

The new series tells the story of Emma Harte’s life in eight episodes, following her journey from a poor servant in Yorkshire in the early 1900s to a successful businesswoman by the 1970s.

Abandoned after becoming pregnant by a wealthy lover, Emma dedicates her life to getting revenge on the family she used to serve – a family who dismissed her. Over the years, through love, hardship, war, and fierce determination, she gains power, cleverly defeats her enemies, and takes control of her own future.

As Emma neared her 80th birthday in the 1970s, a family betrayal put everything she had worked for her entire life at risk.

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A Woman of Substance continues on Wednesday 18 and Thursday 19 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 now 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 Bachelor’s degree in English Literature.

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2026-03-15 15:04