Brenda Blethyn: Early Life and Career
Brenda Blethyn was born on February 20, 1946, in Ramsgate, Kent, England. She grew up in a working-class family and started her career as a secretary. However, she had always been interested in acting and took evening classes in drama. In the 1970s, she joined the Royal National Theatre and later appeared in several TV shows and movies.
One of her breakthrough roles was in the 1996 movie โSecrets & Lies,โ directed by Mike Leigh. Her performance as Cynthia Rose Purley earned her critical acclaim and several awards, including the Best Actress award at the Cannes Film Festival and a nomination for an Academy Award. Blethyn continued to appear in movies and TV shows, including โLittle Voice,โ โPride & Prejudice,โ and โAtonement.โ
Brenda Blethynโs Marriage to Michael Mayhew
Brenda Blethyn met art director Michael Mayhew on the set of the TV show โChance in a Millionโ in the 1980s. They started dating and got married in 2010, after being together for more than 20 years. Mayhew has worked on several movies and TV shows, including โThe Remains of the Dayโ and โThe English Patient.โ
Blethyn has credited Mayhew for his support and understanding of her career. In an interview with The Guardian, she said, โHeโs always been very supportive of my work, and he understands the demands of the job. Heโs a very creative person himself, so we have a lot in common.โ
Brenda Blethynโs Illness on Vera
Brenda Blethyn has been playing the role of DCI Vera Stanhope in the TV series โVeraโ since 2011. However, in 2020, fans were concerned when Blethyn appeared to be unwell in some of the episodes. It was later revealed that Blethyn had suffered a back injury while filming a scene and had to wear a back brace for several weeks.
In an interview with Radio Times, Blethyn said, โIt was a bit of a nightmare, to be honest. I had to wear the brace for six weeks, and it was very uncomfortable. But I didnโt want to let anyone down, so I soldiered on.โ Blethyn has since recovered from her injury and is currently filming the 11th season of โVera.โ
Brenda Blethynโs Awards and Honors
Brenda Blethyn has received numerous awards and honors throughout her career. In addition to her Cannes Film Festival and Academy Award nominations, she has won two Golden Globe Awards, a BAFTA TV Award, and an Olivier Award. She was also appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 2003 for her services to drama.
In 2017, Blethyn received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Newport Beach Film Festival in California. In her acceptance speech, she said, โI feel very honored and grateful to receive this award. Acting has been my passion and my lifeโs work, and Iโm so grateful for all the opportunities Iโve had.โ
Brenda Blethynโs Future Projects
Brenda Blethyn shows no signs of slowing down and has several projects lined up for the future. In addition to filming the 11th season of โVera,โ she is set to star in the movie โThe Duke,โ alongside Jim Broadbent. The movie is based on the true story of a man who stole a painting from the National Gallery in London in 1961.
Blethyn is also set to appear in the TV series โKate and Kolo,โ which is currently in pre-production. The series follows a working-class woman who moves in with her son and his middle-class girlfriend.
