A Woman of Substance review: Brenda Blethyn steals every scene in her first TV role since leaving Vera
The beloved actress portrays fictional heroine Emma Harte in the period drama
Brenda Blethyn returns to our screens for the first time since saying “farewell pet” as DCI Vera Stanhope, but is A Woman of Substance any good?
The 80-year-old actress portrays fictional heroine Emma Harte in the new Channel 4 period drama. And her glam New York lifestyle couldn’t be any more different to the humble lifestyle of Vera in the ITV detective drama. Emma Harte wouldn’t be seen dead in Vera’s beloved raincoat for starters.
Based on the bestselling novel by the late writer Barbara Taylor Bradford OBE, A Woman of Substance is an “epic drama spanning six decades”. It charts the rise of penniless Yorkshire maid Emma Harte in the early 1900s to a powerful 1970s businesswoman.
While Jessica Reynolds plays the young Emma Harte, the older version is brought to life by award-winning actress Brenda Blethyn. But fans tuning in to see Brenda work her magic might be left disappointed. Here’s why in our A Woman of Substance review.
A Woman of Substance review: Is it any good?
Yes, A Woman of Substance is a great yarn if you’re a fan of period dramas. The story is as old as time, but it works. It pits heroes versus villains, alongside a heart-wrenching love story, and tale of revenge served cold as ice. What’s not to love?
As TV adaptations go, it’s a faithful representation of the first Harte Family Saga book published in 1979. It’s a story that has stood the test of time. Forbidden love, broken hearts,
Combined with the stunning filming locations, and starry cast, this Channel 4 eight-parter is a quality series. A synopsis tells us: “Betrayed by her aristocratic lover and cast out when she becomes pregnant, young Emma vows a lifelong revenge on the family she once worked for and who underestimated her.
“Through love, loss, war, and unrelenting ambition, Emma amasses power, outwits rivals, and shapes her own destiny. Now, in the 1970s, she approaches her 80th birthday. But betrayal from within Emma’s own family threatens everything she’s fought a lifetime to build.”
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We’re quite sure author Barbara Taylor Bradford would be thrilled that her story is still relevant today.
Is there lots of sex in it?
Much has been made of the sex scenes in the new adaptation of A Woman of Substance. The Independent described it as “a radical, Rivals-style reboot”, while The Guardian called it a “horny revenge drama” and even a “bonkbuster”. Reader, there are two sex scenes in episode 1 (three at a push, no pun intended). And they are too tame to make you blush.
This is no Wuthering Heights. Although actress Jessica Reynolds, who plays the young Emma Harte, admits the “show is not afraid of sex”.
While Emma and her aristocratic lover Edwin Fairley are seen having sex in the series (courtesy of an intimacy coordinator) the scenes are more romantic than saucy. If you’re looking for soft-porn, this isn’t it.
Woman of Substance review: Casting is key
Many Brenda Blethyn fans will no doubt be tuning in especially to see the Vera actress portray Emma Harte. But they may well be disappointed. In episode 1 alone, Brenda appears in the series for approximately five minutes.
But, much like the equally fabulous Dame Judi Dench in Shakespeare in Love (for which she won an Oscar for less than eight minutes), Brenda still manages to steal the show. And that’s exactly why they cast her in it. As screen time goes, you might feel let down. But she oxygenises every second.
Would we have tuned in without the appeal of Brenda? Possibly not. But her performance, as always, elevates the show from the ordinary to the sublime.
Personal reason Brenda Blethyn agreed to play Emma Harte
Talking about agreeing to take on the role, Brenda said: “I hadn’t seen the original series, but I had heard of it of course. It reminded me of my mum, who started out in service in a big, posh house, where she met my dad. He was the chauffeur. I’m the youngest of nine children, so when I was born my mum was in her 40s, and dad was in his 50s. I was always fascinated by their early years, and I knew that A Woman of Substance was about that world.
“My mum was a wonderful woman and I used to love listening to her stories of what life was like in those days. She was a kitchen maid, who worked her way up to become lady’s maid, as Emma does. And she would tell me about brushing the lady’s hair.”
Brenda also admits she thinks she looks “uncannily like” actress Jessica Reynolds, who plays the younger Emma Harte. She said: “Funnily enough, I looked through my photos to find a photo of me at that age, and I looked just like Jessica. It’s absolutely uncanny.”
Read more: Why Brenda Blethyn quit hit detective series Vera
