BRENDA BLETHYN ‘I'M SO LUCKY TO PLAY VERA!'

SHE NEVER EXPECTED A ROLE LIKE THIS TO COME ALONG

Before Vera came along, its lead star, Brenda Blethyn, was thinking about quitting acting.

“I don’t know how serious I was, but it had crossed my mind,” reveals the actress, who has played the titular role in the British crime drama, which airs in Australia on the ABC, since 2011.

“It is such a wonderful character to play, and I thought: ‘I’ll do my best on the pilot,’ and when that got the stamp of approval, that they wanted to make more episodes, I was thrilled.”

Now in its 11th season, Vera, set against the beautiful landscapes of North East England, is inspired by the bestselling novels and characters created by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves, who Brenda travelled with to a crime seminar in Maryland in recent years.

“[People] were falling over themselves to talk to Ann Cleeves and showing their appreciation for Vera,” recalls Brenda, 76. “It was quite wonderful.”

As well as being a hit in its native England, Vera attracts millions of viewers in Belgium, Denmark, France and Norway. Here in Australia, it’s become a Sunday night staple, with recent episodes bringing in more viewers than Dancing with the Stars, Australian Survivor and 60 Minutes!