IT'S FAIR to say that Brenda Blethyn is a national treasure thanks to her incredible career on the stage and screen
The popular actress has enjoyed a long and varied career, but once held a VERY different job.
Who is Brenda Blethyn?
Brenda Anne Blethyn, OBE was born on February 20, 1946 in Ramsgate, Kent.
She is an English actress, who has worked in theatre, television, and film.
Brenda originally trained at a technical college, and worked as a stenographer and bookkeeper for a bank.
In the 70s, she turned her hobby of amateur dramatics into a professional career and, after studying at the Guildford School of Acting, she went onto the London stage in 1976, performing several seasons at the Royal National Theatre.
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In 1980, Brenda made her television debut in Mike Leigh's film Grown-Ups.
After a number of guest spots in several productions, in the mid-80s she won roles in the short-run sitcoms Chance in a Million and The Labours of Erica.
Having followed her big screen debut with smaller supporting roles in films such as The Witches (1990) and A River Runs Through It (1992), she made a major cinema breakthrough with her role in the 1996 comedy-drama Secrets & Lies, for which she received rave reviews, and won the Best Actress Golden Globe, and was nominated for an Oscar.
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What are Brenda Blethyn’s most notable works?
After Secrets & Lies, the job offers poured in for Brenda, and she was seen as one of Hollywood’s favourite actresses.
Brenda has appeared in an eclectic range of films, including independent comedies such as Saving Grace (2000), Plots with a View (2002) and Clubland (2007), music-themed films like Little
Voice (1998) and Beyond the Sea (2004) and big-budget dramas such as Pride & Prejudice (2005) and Atonement (2007).
Brenda has also appeared in television productions including The Buddha of Suburbia (1993), Anne Frank: The Whole Story (2001), Belonging (2004) and War and Peace (2007).
Her most recent leading role in TV drama is the title role in Vera (2011), playing Detective Chief Inspector Vera Stanhope.
Is Brenda Blethyn married?
Brenda married Alan James Blethyn, a graphic designer she met while working for British Rail, in 1964.
The marriage ended in 1973, and this is when she perused a professional career in acting – she kept her ex-husband's surname as her professional name.
Brenda then married her long-term partner, art director Michael Mayhew, in June 2010.
She revealed the pair decided to tie the knot because they were "getting older".
The actress told Radio Times: "We were getting on a bit and it seemed the sensible thing to do. Neither of us were going anywhere so it just presents a problem if one of us pops our clogs".
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