麻豆APP

Top 10 Facts about Brenda Blethyn 

Brenda Blethyn is the perfect embodiment of 鈥渋t is never too late to start chasing your dreams.鈥� Blethyn took a big risk when she left a 10-year administrative job to pursue her passion of acting. Fortunately, this risk paid off as she became a successful actress who is a recipient of several accolades, including a Golden Globe, a BAFTA, a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actress, and two Academy Award nominations. 

Blethyn began her acting career by joined the Royal National Theatre. During this period, her exceptional acting skills earned her an Olivier nomination for her performance in Benefactors (1984).  She made her television debut in Mike Leigh’s Grown-Ups (1980). Her breakout role came in 1990, she played a small role of Mrs. Jenkins in a film based on the Roald Dahl novel The Witches (1990). 

To continue learning more about Brenda Blethyn, here are the top 10 facts about her. 

1. A humble childhood 

Blethyn along with her cast at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival – Wikipedia

Brenda Blethyn was born in Ramsgate, Kent to Louisa Kathleen, a housewife and former maid and William Charles Bottle, who worked various odd jobs. She was the youngest of nine children. Reflecting on her childhood, Bethyn said: “I am the youngest of nine, and it’s great having a big family, but by the time, of course, the older lot had gone off to seek their fortunes [when I came along].” 

The family lived in poor circumstances at their maternal grandmother’s home. Blethyn further explains, 鈥淚t was difficult. There were tough times. But we got tons of affection. You might be reprimanded severely for something, but there was laughter, cuddles, pride and support in equal measure.鈥� 

2. Blethyn wanted to join the army

Royal Gibraltar Regiment in London, April 2012 – Wikipedia

During an interview, Blethyn confessed, “When I was younger, I always wanted to join the Army, It’s the idea of camaraderie and people working together. My family had a very strong work ethic and my brother Brian was in the army and ended up being a Major.” 

It was not only her brother, Brian, who was in the military. Her father William Charles Bottle spent six years in British India with the Royal Field Artillery.  

3. Her start in acting

The Yo Gabba Gabba! song Try it, You’ll like it comes to mind when writing on how Blethyn came to discover her passion of acting. Basically, Blethyn tried something new and ended up falling in love with it. 

Originally, Blethyn trained at a technical college and worked as a stenographer and bookkeeper for a bank. During one interview Blethyn explained: “I did what most girls did in those days which was become a secretary and while I was working at British Rail I was asked to help out at a drama school.” 

Blethyn so much in love with acting such that she began her hobby of amateur dramatics. Her passion towards acting grew great, and she took the risk to turn professional by joining the Guildford School of Acting.  

The actress began her acting career on the stage, before landing success working on TV films and series. Today she is best known for her work on ITV’s Vera (2011), portraying Vera Stanhope, a work-obsessed Detective Chief Inspector of the Northumberland & City Police. 

4. Bittersweet acting start

Depiction of partners growing apart – Unsplash

Blethyn got married to Alan Blethyn, a graphic designer, in 1964 when she was just 19 years. The two met while working at the British Rail. During an interview, she explains, 鈥淢y brothers looked after me and protected me from predators 鈥� so well that I was quite innocent sexually when I came to marry for the first time at 19.鈥� 

While still at the British Rail, Blethyn fell in love with acting. She began dedicating most of her free try to acting and this negatively impacted her marriage. In the end her husband ended up falling in love with someone else. 

The couple went their separate ways nine years later. Blethyn explained during an interview, “I was 27, something like that, and I was married. But at the time, I was accepted on the course at Guilford and actually [I was] going in the September [and] my marriage broke up. “

5. Engaged for 35 years

Personalized engagement ring – Wikipedia

The good thing about love is that it is ever-changing. At one point we get hurt so bad that we vow never to love again, but somehow love sneaks back into our lives. When in sneaks back again it usually more meaningful than the previous experience. 

Blethyn experienced a great loss when her husband whom she loved dearly fell in love with another woman. 鈥淚 was devastated when he left, but he really was a lovely fella 鈥� and the other lady is nice too,鈥� she explained during an interview. 

Fortunately love has a way of finding you, in 1975 Blethyn found love with Michael Mayhew, former British art director. The couple remained engaged for 35 years, but finally wed in June 2010. Concerning her second marriage, Blethyn expalins: “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.鈥� 

6. Parents unconditional love 

Symbol of Love – Pixabay

No matter what age we are, a parent’s approval is something we always crave, and disappointing them is something we all loath. Blethyn, despite being in her late twenties, had to find the courage not only tell her parents that she left a stable job but was also getting a divorce.  

Blethyn expected her parents to flit out, especially after learning that she will be pursing an acting career, but sometimes parents have a way of shocking us. Her parents confronted her and explained to her that they were ok so long as their child, Bethlyn, is happy. Just imagine the great amount of relieve she must have felt at that time.  

During an interview, Blethyn revealed something her father used to tell his children, 鈥淵ou shouldn’t put off trying things, I think people put off trying things for fear of failure.鈥� 

7. Blethyn鈥檚 raise to fame

Blethyn joined the National Theatre Company, also known as The Royal National Theatre in 1975. The Royal National Theatre is one of the United Kingdom’s three most prominent publicly funded performing arts venues.

She made her screen debut when she appeared in a BBC2 Playhouse presentation called BBC2 Playhouse: Grown-Ups (1980), playing the character Gloria.

However, during this period, she remained relatively unknown. Fortunately, she was able to expand her viewership in 1990 when she made a small appearance as Mrs. Jenkins in a dark fantasy film, The Witches. 

For her performance Blethyn received positive reviews whom Craig Butler of All Media Guide considered as a “valuable support” for her performance of the mother, Mrs. Jenkins. 

8. Two-time Oscar nomination

Oscar with a clapperboard on the background – Unsplash

Blethyn has received two Oscar nominations, up to the time of writing this article. I had to indicate this date because one of these days Blethyn will be able to garner this award like the other many other exceptional awards she has been able to bring home. 

In 1996, she received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress in a leading role for her performance in Mike Leigh’s 1996 drama Secrets & Lies. In the film, Blethyn portrays Marianne Jean-Baptiste, a lower-class box factory worker, who after years once again comes in contact with her illegitimate grown-up black daughter, whom she gave up for adoption 30 years earlier. 

Blethyn鈥檚 second nomination came in 1998 when she received an Oscar nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1998 film Little Voice. In the film, she portrays Mari, a domineering yet needy fish factory worker who has nothing but contempt for her shy daughter and lusts after a local showbiz agent. 

9. She is an Officer of the British Empire (OBE)

Most Excellent Order of the British Empire medal – Wikipedia

The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire rewards contribution to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. 

It is the second-highest ranking Order of the British Empire award, and thus to receive it you must really be awesome at what you are doing. Since Blethyn is one of those remarkable actresses, she was able to bag the award in the 2003 New Year Honours for her services to drama.  

Blethyn has confessed that when she got the letter, she initially mistook it for a tax demand. After further inspection, she uncovered the letter鈥檚 content and was surprised. By the time she got the invite, both her parents were dead, so she attended the ceremony with an elderly aunt and her current husband.   

10. An icon to women

Brenda Blethyn at the 2014 Berlin Film Festival – Wikipedia

You may wonder why so much fuss over a simple actress but to many Blethyn is not a simple actress but a reminder to all women no matter what your circumstances nothing is out of your reach.  

In the course of pursuing her passion, Blethyn lost a stable career and a husband. Mind you, she did this in the 70s, a time when a woman鈥檚 greatest pride was being able to manage her household and maintain a perfect image of her marriage. 

Blethyn鈥檚 story is among many other incredible stories of women who helped open up women鈥檚 mind to understand that it is not wrong to love yourself, to find your own happiness and to live life according to your own rules. In the process of doing so, you will receive more than you can image. In Blethyn鈥檚 case, she went on to become a renowned actress who is worth millions today and was able to find a loving husband who supports her in her career.  

With that, ladies, have fun making your own rules.