Inside Vera star Brenda Blethyn’s life off screen – from whopping eight siblings to gorgeous seaside home
BRENDA Blethyn is one of our best known actresses thanks to her roles in Vera, Secrets & Lies and Little Voice.
Despite Brenda’s glittering career – which includes BAFTA and Golden Globe wins – the 76-year-old has always managed to maintain her private life away from the cameras.
But there are some surprising facts from Brenda’s life that are worth knowing, so read on to find out more.
BY THE SEA
Brenda was born in Ramsgate, Kent, and despite spending up to six months of the year filming Vera in the North East, she still has a property in her hometown.
Brenda was born in 1946 and still considers the town home.
She previously told of filming Vera : ‘When we finish filming, I always say, ‘I really don’t think I can do this anymore,’
“Filming usually means six months away from home – and in 2022 it was the best part of 10 months. But then I have a rest, get my appetite back and change my mind.”
BIG BROOD
Brenda is the youngest of nine children, with the family growing up at their maternal grandmother’s house.
Her parents were William Charles Bottle and Louisa Kathleen Bottle, who met when working at the same household in nearby Broadstairs.
Brenda has six brothers; Bernard, Brian, Martin, Terry, Ted and Bill and two sisters, called Jeannie and Pam.
When Brenda was born there was almost a 20 year age gap between her and her eldest sibling.
Speaking on Graham Norton’s BBC Radio 2 show in January, 2020, Brenda said: “I’m the youngest of nine, but by the time I came along the first batch were sort of leaving home and moving on.
“It’s great, I love my family, we’re all very close and we get on very well.
“We’ve lost some of them now. There are only six of us left I believe.”
LOVE LIFE
Brenda married her first husband, Alan Blethyn, while working for British Rail in 1964.
However their marriage came to an end in 1973, and she has been with her current husband, British art director Michael Mayhew, since 1975.
The couple waited until 2010 to tie the knot and have no children together.
Vera airs on ITV1 and is available on ITVX.