VERA legend Brenda Blethyn has opened up on her life off-camera – and the unconventional living arrangements with her other-half.

The actress, who has been married to art director Michael Mayhew since 2010, after 14 years to spend more time with her family.

Brenda Blethyn attends the NTAs 2024.Vera legend Brenda Blethyn has opened up on her life off-cameraCredit: Getty Brenda Blethyn and her husband Michael Mayhew.Brenda married husband Michael Mayhew in 2010Credit: Alamy Brenda Blethyn as Vera in the ITV series.She quit her iconic role in Vera earlier this yearCredit: ITV

Now double nominee and BAFTA and Golden Globe winner has revealed what life looks like at home after she left her iconic role as DCI Vera Stanhope.

The screen star, 79, who lives in has told how while she and Michael live in the same building – they actually share separate apartments within it.

She told The Telegraph : “My husband lives upstairs.

“We moved into this very nice flat in Ramsgate.

“And I’d be saying, ‘Can I open a window, it’s very hot in here?’ And he’d say, ‘No, it’s freezing.’

“And after a while, I said, ‘Is that flat downstairs still vacant?’

‘So I moved downstairs. It works brilliantly.

‘We eat together. We go out together.

“We live together, but in different apartments.”

HUGE CHANGE

Vera wrapped on January 2 2025.

Brenda had played ever since the series began in 2011.

Brenda previously – in news that devastated fans – before revealing the real reason why.

She told The Sun: “As much as I loved all that, I’ve got a family at home and I realised I hadn’t had a summer for 14 years with my family.

“So I still did another series because I couldn’t drag myself away.

“But anyway it was time, that’s all.”

OPENING UP

Previously, the Kate and Koji star spoke openly about the start of her career as an actress and the breakdown of her first marriage.

The Kent-born actress was wed to Alan Blethyn from 1964 to 1973.

She recalled her former life chapter and told the Radio 4 Saturday Live podcast: “I was 27, something like that and I was married.

“But at the time, I was accepted on the [acting] course at Guilford and actually [I was] going in the September [and] my marriage broke up. “

She added: “My entire life changed, my prospects, my job, my bank balance, where I lived, my friends.

“Everything changed, and it was quite a brave thing to do, but I’m so glad I did it.”

Brenda Blethyn attends the TV Choice Awards 2025.Brenda, 79, told how she and her husband live in the same property – but different apartments within itCredit: Getty Michael Mayhew and Brenda Blethyn at the National Television Awards.She said the switch up came after the pair disagreed on the temperature of their roomsCredit: Getty Brenda Blethyn as DCI Vera Stanhope in a trench coat and hat, standing by the sea.She recently revealed the real reason she quit her telly role as DCI Vera StanhopeCredit: PA