Brenda Blethyn unrecognisable as she films her first role following Vera finale
Brenda Blethyn has been spotted on the set of her latest show looking a million miles away from beloved detective Vera Stanhope
BAFTA winning star Brenda Blethyn has put the bucket hat and oversized mac of Vera behind her for a far more glamorous look in her latest role. The 79-year-old bowed out of the much loved ITV detective series in January this year after appearing in 56 episodes over fourteen years. After some brief downtime the actress is back on set playing the part of the older Emma Harte in Channel 4's adaptation of Barbara Taylor-Bradford's 1979 novel A Woman of Substance. The character is a self-made woman who built up a business empire and who finds herself at loggerheads with her family as they try to oust her and break up her empire so the pieces can be sold off.
In the first look pictures of the star on set in Liverpool, which has been dressed to look like New York, Brenda donned a pristine cream coat accessorised with an expensive looking scarf, sunglasses and handbag. A matching skirt could just be glimpsed underneath the coat in some shots and the cuff of a boldly patterned shirt peeked out below the arms of the outergarment. Vera's tousled dark hair is replaced with a perfectly coiffed white barnet. Brenda has been sporting white hair of late so it is likely this is her own hair and not a wig.
She appeared to be in between takes in some shots as she donned a classic clear plastic rain hood to protect her hair from the elements. In another shot which sees her crossing the road in character she has removed the protective covering.
The book opens with Emma flying to New York and the aftermath of her touch down so it is likely these scenes are for the opening of the series.
The story spans Emma's life and the younger version of the character is set to be played by Outlander star Jessica Reynolds, 27.
This is the second adaptation of Taylor-Bradford's book following a wildly successful 1984 miniseries which starred Hollywood icon Deborah Kerr as the older Emma and Jenny Seagrove as the younger version.
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That aired on Channel 4 in January 1985, gave the fledgling broadcaster, which had only launched in November 1982, its highest ever audience figures, with 13.8 million viewers.
It spawned two sequels, also based on Taylor-Bradford's books. Hold the Dream hit screens in 1986 and in 1982 To Be the Best landed. Deborah Kerr returned as Emma for Hold The Dream however Seagrove was recast as her granddaughter, Paula.
Meanwhile To Be the Best saw Bionic Woman star Lindsay Wagner replace Seagrove as Paula, who as running the Harte empire ten years after Emma's death.
This latest version of the story is expected to air later this year although no date has been announced as of yet.
