Vera icon Brenda Blethyn talks new drama’s explosive finale: “Trump them all. Sorry to use that word…”

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The latest series of A Woman of Substance ends with a dramatic showdown. Eighty-year-old Emma Harte, dressed in a beautiful purple outfit and statement gold jewelry, calmly faces her family to settle things once and for all.

Your plan has a serious weakness – you didn’t account for my capabilities! Imagine a powerful, commanding woman like Brian Cox’s character in Succession. She relishes the dramatic moments, saying, ‘I really sink my teeth into that scene.’ She even playfully apologizes for a slightly rough choice of words. The ending is particularly satisfying, showcasing a stunning performance through subtle facial expressions.

Just days before turning eighty, actress Blethyn thoroughly enjoyed the story, which was adapted from a Barbara Taylor Bradford novel. She described it as “rich and luscious.” The tale is a classic, easy-to-read saga following a Yorkshire kitchen maid in the early 1900s. Abandoned while pregnant, she uses her talent for dressmaking and business skills to build a successful global company by the 1960s, though not without family drama.

I remember Channel 4’s take on this story back in ’84, with Deborah Kerr playing the older version of the character and Jenny Seagrove as her younger self. But this new adaptation? It’s just massive and visually stunning! They’ve cast Lesley Blethyn as the powerful, older woman, and we see her reflecting on her life as she confidently strides through her New York office, ready to take on anyone in the boardroom.

She’s a powerfully angry woman, reminiscent of Margaret Thatcher, as she confronts her unappreciative children and reignites a long-standing, bitter rivalry with the wealthy Fairley family – a family she once served as a maid. The story is a fierce tale of getting even and the harsh realities of class conflict in the early 1900s.

She particularly enjoyed watching scenes featuring Jessica Reynolds as a younger version of her character. “She’s fantastic,” she explained, showing an old photograph. “I found these pictures of myself from when I was her age, and I realized we actually have similar eyes. The producers hadn’t seen these photos, but it’s possible they sensed that resemblance, as it worked well on screen.”

She excitedly pointed out that the scenes set in New York were actually filmed in Liverpool. Apparently, the Cunard Building looks identical on both sides of the Atlantic! She recalled arriving on location and initially mistaking a large department store for a real shop, only to realize it was part of the set, designed to recreate 1960s New York, complete with yellow cabs and authentic sound effects.

Stepping into the world of 1960s high fashion was a lovely surprise – thankfully, no shoulder pads in sight! After 14 years of playing Vera, the wonderfully messy but sharp detective in Northumbria, it was a real treat to experience some glamour. Our costume designer created truly fantastic clothes. In fact, I was just back in the Vera costume yesterday in Newcastle for a charity event called ‘Sunday for Sammy,’ which supports young people pursuing careers in the arts. The poster was quite a lineup – Lewis Capaldi, Brenda Blethyn, and Sting! There I was, back in the old mac, hat, and boots… honestly, anyone could have been under there, really.

The actress has enjoyed playing strong, successful characters like Vera and Emma Harte, a change from the more downtrodden roles she used to get. Both characters require a sharp mind, and she approaches this by simply being thoughtful, rather than overtly showing it. She actually loves a good mental challenge – she’s a member of the Times Crossword Club and competes with her brother daily to solve the cryptic puzzle, though he recently won! Growing up, her family didn’t have much money, and often lacked a TV or even a radio. But her father always kept their minds active with brainteasers and puzzles.

Interestingly, Blethyn’s own family background wasn’t far removed from the world of her character, Emma. Her mother began as a kitchen maid and eventually became a lady’s maid, and she met Blethyn’s father while both were employed by the same family – he was the chauffeur. Blethyn described her mother’s life as one of relentless work: “Long, hard hours, constantly polishing, scrubbing, and cleaning.”

My mum and dad got married and settled down in Ramsgate, Kent, which is where I was born and grew up. They’d both worked as servants earlier in life, but they left those jobs and found other ways to make a living. Mum did all sorts of cleaning – she even cleaned the local council offices! Dad was a driver for the city. Mum was really good at managing the money; she’d take about three pounds a week out of his wages to cover household expenses. It had to stretch far, though, because there were nine of us kids! I was the youngest, but some of my older siblings had already moved out by the time I came along.

Throughout the show, Emma’s mother constantly encouraged her to go out and pursue her dreams. Did Brenda Blethyn receive similar encouragement from her own mother? “Absolutely! Both our mothers told us we could achieve anything with hard work and that we were just as capable as anyone else. We all had to work for what we got.”

My dad really drilled into me the importance of being direct. I suddenly remembered him playfully quoting some ridiculously long phrase – something about ‘promulgating esoteric cogitations’ and avoiding being overly complicated. But then he’d immediately say, ‘Just say what you mean, don’t try to sound fancy!’ It was a funny way to learn, but it stuck with me – just be yourself and use your own words.

I sometimes wish I could go back in time and honor her late parents with awards. But let’s talk about Brenda Blethyn’s career. She initially trained as a stenographer, learning Pitman shorthand – she still remembers how to do it and finds it helpful on the phone! – and worked in several office jobs. Eventually, she ended up in the marketing department for British Rail freight. She recalls a funny incident on a train when a trolley lady asked if she’d kept her old rail pass. Brenda didn’t, but she did have one back then and traveled everywhere! One day, someone from the Euston Players asked her to fill in for an actor who was sick, just for a single line in a play. She initially refused, but they convinced her it was only a small part.

I wondered, what were the exact lines? Blethyn immediately delivered them, flawlessly and with feeling. She said, “It’s a really foul night. Evans the postman says the mist is thick, right down to the path.”

From that moment on, she was completely captivated by the world of theatre. She remembered her first competition, even though they didn’t win. What really impressed her was all the different talents involved – costume designers, lighting technicians, set builders, even the people selling tickets. She realized that the more you practice, the better you become, and others encouraged her to pursue it professionally. She never imagined she’d end up in television or film, and she waited until she was certain about her path before telling her parents.

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It’s amazing how much more difficult it would be for a young, hopeful actress today to go from a regular office job to a year of drama school, followed by a debut on the National Theatre stage. As Brenda Blethyn recalls benefiting from a grant, she expresses her concern over the current lack of funding for theatre and the arts. She worries about students being burdened with significant loans and high interest rates.

She remains a passionate supporter of amateur dramatics. She explains, “I support the Enfield Players in Derby, near where my brother lives. I believe theatre training is valuable for everyone, regardless of their job. It teaches important skills like responsibility and being on time – you learn to depend on others and they depend on you.”

She recalls taking her parents to the National Theatre, where her father, with his distinctive accent from 1894, remarked that it must have cost a fortune. Later, when she received a film offer in America for ‘A River Runs Through It’, her mother was hospitalized. She initially planned to decline the role, but her mother insisted she take it, because the film was directed by her favorite actor, Robert Redford. He even sent her mother a signed photograph with a personal message of affection.

Does she prefer acting on stage or in front of a camera these days? She says she still loves the theater, especially having the time to rehearse and perform a play in order, unlike film and TV where scenes are often shot out of sequence. She also enjoys the energy of a live audience, comparing it to the thrill of scoring a goal. However, she admits that committing to a long-term stage production is harder now, but she’d likely accept a short-notice role if one came up.

Does she go to the theatre? She mentioned that she once spent a whole week with her niece going to both afternoon and evening performances, and she hopes to do that again soon.

The character of Emma in A Woman of Substance was striking and powerful, and it’s interesting to consider what she was thinking in that final scene – likely plotting her next move. With six more books in the series – the next being Hold the Dream – and the character reappearing, Brenda Blethyn, OBE, clearly still has the energy to bring this formidable woman to life if a continuation is made.

Authors

Libby Purves

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2026-03-02 20:42