Brenda Blethyn has recounted a dramatic "medical emergency" on the set of Vera, leaping into action to help a fan who fainted nearby during filming. After delighting audiences as one of the most beloved detectives for 14 years, BAFTA-winner Brenda has hung up her hat as DCI Stanhope, leading to the end of the much-admired series that first hit ITV screens in 2011. Her decision to leave came last year, following the final scenes of Vera which graced televisions in the last episode titled The Dark Wives in early January.
The last time viewers saw Brenda's iconic portrayal was as Vera aired at the start of January, after she and the ITV crime drama crew filmed across various locations in the North East last summer. Vera's presence always garners local excitement, which was evident when a stir was caused by an eager fan trying to catch a glimpse of Brenda in action and her co-stars while they filmed in Redcar in August 2023.
Having said farewell to Kenny Doughty, Brenda saw the return of original partner-in-solving-crime David Leon as shooting commenced for the year's series of Vera. But the excitement turned into concern when an elderly lady attending the shoot suffered from the heat and lost consciousness. Brenda, hearing the commotion, stepped off set to ensure the woman received attention, reports the Chronicle. Reliving the incident during an ITV interview last month, Brenda shared the story, with a touch of humour: "The medics went over, even our medics went over, to make sure she was alright. But she refused to go; she wanted to watch a bit more Vera being filmed!".
Brenda added: "Eventually I went over and she nearly passed out....again, when I leaned over her. When I got home it was on the news and the next day they interviewed at home.". Speaking at a Vera press event in London, the actress spilled about her own health scare while filming, sharing that she suffered an attack of Bell's Palsy mid-production. She recounted how a sharp-eyed makeup artist intervened after spotting her face drooping on a monitor.
