Brenda Blethyn has stunned fans with a glamorous new look, leaving her beloved ITV detective Vera Stanhope firmly behind. The 79-year-old actress, who bowed out of Vera earlier this year after 13 years in the role, is now taking centre stage in Channel 4’s ambitious remake of A Woman Of Substance.
The new eight-part adaptation of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s 1979 best-seller tells the sweeping story of Emma Harte — a poor Yorkshire maid who builds her own retail empire and becomes one of the richest women in the world. Brenda plays Emma in her later years, while Outlander star Jessica Reynolds portrays her younger self.
In the first released images, Brenda looks a world away from the stoic detective fans know so well. Gone are the heavy coats and fisherman’s hat — instead, she struts through set in a tailored white jacket, stylish handbag and oversized sunglasses, her hair perfectly blown-out into soft waves.
“It’s a rags-to-riches tale about resilience, ambition and the fight to be taken seriously in a man’s world,” Channel 4 teased, confirming filming has wrapped in Yorkshire and the release date will be announced soon.
Speaking about saying goodbye to Vera, Brenda admitted the final day on set was deeply emotional. “It was very appropriate that the last day of filming was in the police incident room where so much of the drama took place,” she recalled. “When I heard ‘that’s a wrap’, I was emotional. I thanked everyone and said, ‘We’re all as important as one another.’”
Now stepping into Emma Harte’s designer heels, Brenda Blethyn seems ready for her next act — proving that even at 79, she’s still every bit a woman of substance.
