Brenda Blethyn Reprises Iconic Emma Harte Role in Channel 4 Drama

Brenda Blethyn, best known for her role in ITV's Vera, has taken on the lead role of Emma Harte in Channel 4's reboot of the 1984 Emmy-nominated series A Woman of Substance, based on Barbara Taylor Bradford's 1979 novel. The series tells the rags-to-riches story of Emma Harte, a Yorkshire housemaid who rises to become a powerful businesswoman and department store mogul, with Blethyn portraying the older Emma and Jessica Reynolds playing her younger self. Blethyn is nearly unrecognizable with her white hair styled in a 1970s fashion and dressed in period-appropriate wardrobe, including a cream coat, silk scarf, and accessories bearing the character's initials. She expressed enthusiasm about stepping into the iconic role previously played by Deborah Kerr, highlighting the opportunity to portray the fierce and ambitious Emma. The eight-part series, filmed partly in Liverpool dressed as New York, features a strong supporting cast and promises a dramatic exploration of Emma's life and family conflicts. Both Blethyn and Reynolds have praised the project and the talented cast and crew bringing this classic story to a new audience.