Brenda Blethyn 'I TRIED BEING A DIVA... BUT FAILED!'

THERE'S NOT A MEAN BONE IN THE VERA STAR'S BODY

Brenda Blethyn has a confession to make - she once lost her alter ego Vera Stanhope's iconic hat! "I didn't dare own up to it," the Vera star says with a laugh. "I was blaming the wardrobe department.

"Fortunately, I found it. I think [my dog] Jack found it, actually." Along with the Detective Chief Inspector's boots, Brenda, 77, says the khaki bucket hat has always been "important" to getting into character. In fact, she was the one who purchased Vera's hat, from a fishing shop stall in Newcastle, England, where the hit crime series is filmed.

"Right from the beginning, I knew the hat to get," she shares.

It's just like Brenda to go scrounging around for the perfect costume if it means her character will benefit from it. Not afraid to muck in, she eschews the typical ideals of a Hollywood star and has a reputation for being an 'anti-diva'.

When asked about her distinct lack of ego, Brenda says she's "tried" having one "once or twice" over the years, but realised "it doesn't get you anywhere".

"At least, it didn't do me any good," she says. "So I don't bother anymore."