Brenda Blethyn reflects on saying goodbye to Vera after 15 years
Following the show's conclusion last year, Brenda Blethyn has said she is "rather proud" of Vera.
Brenda Blethyn is “rather proud” of Vera.
The 79-year-old actress starred in the ITV crime drama from 2011 to 2025 as the titular Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope, and Brenda has now reflected on the show what its legacy means to her.
In the March issue of Prima magazine, she said: “I miss the assuredness I had with Vera. I’d been doing it for so long, and I knew the character better than any visitors coming in or any guest writers who’d sometimes get something wrong because they hadn’t seen the previous scenarios.
“I don’t mind still talking about Vera because I’m rather proud of her. I had to do the show for so long – it was 15 years if you count back to the pilot. She’s like an old friend.”
Following Vera, Brenda signed on to star in the Channel 4 drama A Woman of Substance, in which the actress portrays an older version of the Yorkshire maid-turned-businesswoman Emma Harte.
Reflecting on the change of pace from Vera to A Woman of Substance, Brenda said: “After Vera, playing this role was a bit of a rags to riches tale for me, too.
“They’re both strong women, but they’re very different kettles of fish. It was lovely to dress up in nice clothes for a change.
“The outfits were exquisite and very different to Vera’s wardrobe, although a lot of her costumes were actually rather nice, it was just the way she wore them. I’ve kept quite a few of her blouses.”
Brenda also admitted she wished she had spoken her mind more.
She noted: “I regret that I didn’t speak up more, for fear of being ridiculed.
“I suppose I’m someone with imposter syndrome. I’m not as bad as I was, but I certainly had it when I was younger, and I wish I’d kicked that into touch.
“On A Woman of Substance, I only had it in as much as I’d just come off Vera where I could rule the roost.”
While Brenda will be turning 80 next month, the actress has no plans to retire just yet.
She shared: “I’m lucky to have been working all this time. In fact, when I was 65, I was thinking, ‘Do I retire now? Maybe that’s what I’m supposed to do?’
“And then Vera came along. Now I’m nearly 80 and I’m not thinking about retiring at all – though perhaps I will cut back a bit and spend more time at home.”
The March 2026 issue of Prima is now on sale.
Read Brenda Blethyn’s full interview with Prima here: www.prima.co.uk/brenda-blethyn
