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Brenda Blethyn

Brenda Blethyn

Actor · Born February 20, 1946 (80) · Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK

Golden Globe winner · BAFTA Award winner · Oscar nominee · 3 other major award bodies

Brenda Anne Blethyn is an English actress who has worked in theatre, television, and film. Blethyn has received two Academy Award nominations, two SAG Award nominations, two Emmy Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations, winning one. In addition, she has won a BAFTA, an Empire Award and a Golden Lion, and has earned a Theater World Award and both a Critics' Circle Theatre Award and a Laurence Olivier Award nomination for her theatrical work. Born into a working class home in Ramsgate, Kent, Blethyn pursued an administrative career until her early 30s before enrolling in the Guildford School of Acting after the dissolution of her marriage in 1973. She subsequently joined the Royal National Theatre and received credits for her performances in Troilus and Cressida (1976) and Mysteries (1979). In 1981, Blethyn earned her first critical acclaim for Steaming. In 1980, Blethyn made her television debut in Mike Leigh's film Grown-Ups; then, after a modest number of guest spots in several productions, in the mid-1980s she garnered leading roles in the short-living 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 her real cinema breakthrough with her role in the 1996 dramedy Secrets & Lies, for which she received rave reviews. Blethyn has since 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). In addition, Blethyn has 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. Description above from the Wikipedia article Brenda Blethyn, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

Read more

Biography from TMDB.

Born
February 20, 1946 (80)
From
Ramsgate, Kent, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
45 on MovieCove · 89 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 157 days to Oct 28Up 87% in 30 days

What are Brenda Blethyn's films like?

Across their 33 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Bonds and Self.

Genres

Comedy11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 66th percentile
: browse their Comedy movies
Drama11 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 82nd percentile, at or above their average across these genres
: browse their Drama movies
Animation3 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 72nd percentile
: browse their Animation movies
Biography2 titlesTypical Midcredits score: 70th percentile
: browse their Biography movies

Their MovieCove films by primary genre. The badge is the typical Midcredits score of the genre's films, the median percentile; an up arrow marks a genre at or above their average across these genres.

Themes

share of theme weight
Bonds
42%
Self
20%
Power
9%
Survival
9%
Society
8%
Morality
7%
Ideas
4%
Family bonds15 titles, browse their movies with this themeRomantic love9 titles, browse their movies with this themeFriendship6 titles, browse their movies with this themeSelf-worth6 titles, browse their movies with this themePrejudice4 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival4 titles, browse their movies with this themePurpose3 titles, browse their movies with this themeIdentity4 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 30 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 18 · Stylized 10 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 11 · Charged 14 · Intense 5

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 16 · Shifting 13 · Whiplash 1

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 13 · Some laughs 14 · Funny 3

Slow burn: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their slow burn movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 21 · Even-paced 8 · Relentless 1

Casual: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their casual movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 18 · Engaged 10 · Full focus 2

Affecting: How much it costs you emotionally; whether you need recovery time. Browse their affecting movies.
Demand · Emotional cost
easyheavy

Easy watch 8 · Affecting 11 · Heavy 11

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 23 · Open-ended 7 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

20 analyzed roles

Usually the Hero: 8 of 20 analyzed roles.

Hero
8 of 20
Threshold guardian
3 of 20
Shadow
3 of 20
Mentor
3 of 20
Shapeshifter
1 of 20
Herald
1 of 20
Ally
1 of 20
Show the 20 roles

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Melancholic
17
Tense
13
Warm
11
Hopeful
10
Romantic
8
Other
32

How their films linger

Hopeful16 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFeel-good12 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet11 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking6 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteHaunting4 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 2 with a twist

  • Happy11
  • Bittersweet15
  • Tragic5
  • Ambiguous2

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Brenda Blethyn's films?

As of October 24, 2026, 30 of their 45 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (9).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Brenda Blethyn's titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

89 credits, 45 with a MovieCove page; 14 appearances as themselves are hidden until asked for.

  • A Woman of Substance(2026)

    Show 8 episodes · as Older Emma Harle

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all shows

  • Dragonfly(2025)

    as Elsie

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Charlotte(2021)

    as Grossmama (voice)

    Midcredits score: 54th percentile of all films

  • Kate & Koji(2020)

    Show 12 episodes · as Kate Abbott

    Midcredits score: 47th percentile of all shows

  • Raymond Briggs: Snowmen, Bogeymen and Milkmen (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2018)

    as Narrator

  • Ethel & Ernest(2016)

    as Ethel Briggs (voice)

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Two Men in Town(2014)

    as Emily Smith

    Midcredits score: 31st percentile of all films

  • Mary and Martha(2013)

    as Martha

    Midcredits score: 71st percentile of all films

  • Playhouse Presents (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2012)

    Show 1 episode · as Nina

  • My Angel(2011)

    as Headmistress

    Midcredits score: 8th percentile of all films

  • The Many Faces of... Michael Caine (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2011)

    Actor

  • Vera(2011)

    Show 56 episodes · as DCI Vera Stanhope

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • The Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Sister Ignatious

  • My Friends Tigger & Pooh: Super Duper Super Sleuths (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2010)

    as Mama Heffalump (voice)

  • Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too(2009)

    as Mama Heffalump (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • London River(2009)

    as Elisabeth

    Midcredits score: 76th percentile of all films

  • Dead Man Running(2009)

    as Mother

    Midcredits score: 41st percentile of all films

  • War and Peace (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Show 4 episodes · as Márja Dmitrijewna Achrosímowa

  • Clubland (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2007)

    Writer · as Jean

  • Atonement(2007)

    as Grace Turner

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all films

  • Mysterious Creatures(2006)

    as Wendy Ainscow

    Midcredits score: 87th percentile of all films

  • The New Adventures of Old Christine(2006)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela Kimble

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • Pride & Prejudice(2005)

    as Mrs. Bennet

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • On a Clear Day(2005)

    as Joan

    Midcredits score: 75th percentile of all films

  • Pooh's Heffalump Movie(2005)

    as Mama Heffalump (voice)

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Beyond the Sea(2004)

    as Polly Cassotto

    Midcredits score: 62nd percentile of all films

  • A Way of Life (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Annette

  • Piccadilly Jim (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Nesta Pett

  • Belonging (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2004)

    as Jess Copplestone

  • Between The Sheets (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2003)

    Show 6 episodes · as Hazel Delany

  • Blizzard(2003)

    as Aunt Millie

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Bob the Builder: The Knights of Fix-A-Lot(2003)

    as Dr. Florence Mountfitchet (voice)

    Midcredits score: 72nd percentile of all films

  • The Sleeping Dictionary(2003)

    as Aggie

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • The Wild Thornberrys Movie(2002)

    as Mrs. Fairgood (voice)

    Midcredits score: 39th percentile of all films

  • Undertaking Betty(2002)

    as Betty Rhys-Jones

    Midcredits score: 63rd percentile of all films

  • Sonny(2002)

    as Jewel

    Midcredits score: 25th percentile of all films

  • Lovely & Amazing(2001)

    as Jane Marks

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • Pumpkin(2002)

    as Judy Romanoff

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • The Yellow Bird (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2002)

    as Mrs. Louise Tutwiler

  • Daddy and Them(2001)

    as Julia Montgomery

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • On the Nose (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    as Mrs. Delaney

  • Anne Frank: The Whole Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(2001)

    Show 2 episodes · as Auguste Rottgen-van Pels

  • Saving Grace(2000)

    as Grace Trevethyn

    Midcredits score: 77th percentile of all films

  • RKO 281(1999)

    as Louella Parsons

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Law & Order: Special Victims Unit(1999)

    Show 1 episode · as Linnie Malcolm

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • Little Voice(1998)

    as Mari Hoff

    Midcredits score: 79th percentile of all films

  • In the Winter Dark (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Ida Stubbs

  • Girls' Night(1998)

    as Dawn Wilkinson

    Midcredits score: 66th percentile of all films

  • Music from Another Room(1998)

    as Grace Swan

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all films

  • Night Train (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1998)

    as Alice Mooney

  • Remember Me?(1997)

    as Shirley

    Midcredits score: 33rd percentile of all films

  • Secrets & Lies(1996)

    as Cynthia Rose Purley

    Midcredits score: 98th percentile of all films

  • Outside Edge (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    Show 22 episodes · as Miriam Dervish

  • The Buddha of Suburbia (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    Show 4 episodes · as Margaret Amir

  • The Bullion Boys (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1993)

    as Gwen

  • A River Runs Through It(1992)

    as Mrs. Maclean

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all films

  • Maigret(1992)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 84th percentile of all shows

  • All Good Things (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1991)

    Show 6 episodes · as Shirley Frame

  • The Witches(1990)

    as Mrs Jenkins

    Midcredits score: 78th percentile of all films

  • Screen One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 1 episode · as Gwen

  • Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 6 episodes · as Ticki Tocquet

  • The Shawl (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    as Miss A

  • The Labours of Erica (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1989)

    Show 12 episodes · Actor

  • The Storyteller: A Story Short (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    as The Storyteller's Wife

  • The Storyteller(1987)

    Show 1 episode · as Storyteller's Wife

    Midcredits score: 99th percentile of all shows

  • The Play on One (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1988)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss A

  • Claws (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1987)

    as Sylvia

  • Sunday Premiere (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Sylvia

  • The Mysteries (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mary Magdalene / Mary

  • Chance in a Million (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 18 episodes · as Alison Little

  • Weekend Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Jean Saunders

  • Who Dares Wins (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 8 episodes · as Various

  • Floating Off (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    as Janice

  • Dalgliesh (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Angela Foley

  • Death of an Expert Witness (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1983)

    Show 6 episodes · as Angela Foley

  • The First Part of Henry the Sixth(1983)

    as Joan La Pucelle

    Midcredits score: 82nd percentile of all films

  • King Lear(1982)

    as Cordelia

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Say No to Strangers (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1981)

    as Policewoman

  • Grown-Ups (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Gloria

  • Bedroom Farce (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Kate

  • Sheppey (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Miss Grange

  • The Imitation Game (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Actor

  • Yes Minister(1980)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

    Midcredits score: 97th percentile of all shows

  • Tales of the Unexpected(1979)

    Show 1 episode · as Carol Hutchins

    Midcredits score: 74th percentile of all shows

  • Rumpole of the Bailey(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Pauline

    Midcredits score: 92nd percentile of all shows

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Gloria

  • Fools (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    Actor

  • King of the Teds (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Nina

  • Strawberry Fields Forever (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)

    as Grannie Nellie

Career shape

Star power in the 99th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 89 titles, 86 of them dated from 1974 to 2026; peak year 2003.

Biggest box office

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

$132M worldwide

Highest rated

Secrets & Lies (1996)

Midcredits 98th

Most popular right now

Vera (2011)

Film career

MilestoneBreakoutAward winNomination
19742026

Peak 2003 · fewer prominent film roles lately. Top draw in 13 MovieCove titles. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

Show 2 more milestones

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting89 of 89: 88 only acting, 1 with another role · typical Midcredits score74thWriting1 of 89: 0 only writing, 1 with another role

By decade

1970s3 · acting1980s24 · acting1990s16 · acting2000s29 · 29 acting · 1 crew2010s10 · acting2020s4 · acting

Billing

usually 3rd · top billed in 22% of 27 roles
900005

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored. Billing is TMDB cast order for roles with 25+ votes, billed in the top 30; the columns are the share of top-billed roles in each era, 5-year spans from the year on the label, merged until each holds at least 5 roles.

Awards

a Golden Globe, a BAFTA Award and 1 other major award from 15 major nominations, 1996–2009.

WinNomination
  1. 2009
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
  2. 2006
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
  3. 2005
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Actress
  4. 2001
    • Primetime Emmy, nominated · Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Miniseries or a Movie
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical
  5. 1999
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Golden Globe, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture
    • BAFTA Award, nominated · Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Cast
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
  6. 1997
    • Oscar, nominated · Best Actress in a Leading Role
    • Golden Globe, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama
    • BAFTA Award, won · Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role
    • Screen Actors Guild Award, nominated · Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
  7. 1996
    • Cannes award, won

Major bodies only: the Oscars, Primetime Emmys, Golden Globes, BAFTAs and Screen Actors Guild Awards are named; Cannes, Venice, the Berlinale, Sundance, the directors', writers' and producers' guilds, the Grammys, Critics Choice and the Independent Spirit Awards count as other major bodies. Festival and regional prizes are not counted. Source: IMDb.

How do Brenda Blethyn's films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 67th percentile, the median of all 35; across their 30 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 69th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

69thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Approval · how many liked their films

73rdpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Reach · how many have seen their films

75thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 30

Midcredits score across 45 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up22
  • 50th to 74th11
  • 25th to 49th11
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

24 of their 45 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved9
  • Divisive1
  • Cult Classic1
  • Crowd Pleaser24
  • Mixed10

Most divisive · actor

Tigger & Pooh and a Musical Too (2009)

91st percentile spread · 32% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

Secrets & Lies (1996)

Midcredits 98th · 87% liked

Reviewers score the acting 74/100 in their films, across 29 reviewed titles; fans 83, detractors 50. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Is Brenda Blethyn's work okay for kids?

Across up to 12 MovieCove titles with content scores, sex & nudity runs heavier than most films.

Their medianMedian of all filmsMiddle 80% of their titles
Violence & Gore8 titles6–63 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 44
Sex & Nudity12 titles14–54 · median 45 · moderateheavier than most filmsMedian of all films: 32
Profanity10 titles25–61 · median 44 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 36
Alcohol & Drugs6 titles25–46 · median 40 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 33
Frightening / Intense10 titles21–67 · median 36 · moderatenear the median of all filmsMedian of all films: 39

Severity 0–100 from the Content Guide. Categories with under 10 votes on a title are not counted. The band's colour is the severity of their median, named beside it.

Who does Brenda Blethyn work with?

People who share at least 2 of Brenda Blethyn's MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Timothy Spall shares the most, 3.

Directors

Writers

Actors

Composers and editors

Producers

Mixed roles