Secrets and Lies: Brenda Blethyn

Brenda Blethyn - her movies & her work.

Today I am talking about one of my favourite actresses, Brenda Blethyn, and her parts in some of my best loved films.

The one you see on the right is a definite favorite in my DVD collection and is a perfect example of Blethyn's work.

Many years ago, I did some work for the Fort Lauderdale Film Festival, which is where I saw this film and discovered Brenda Blethyn's work.

Secrets & Lies

Sometimes the word 'actress' conjures up an image of a rather glamorous female of the Hollywood type but Brenda Blethyn is far from that. She is slightly dumpy and although attractive, she's certainly not the typical 'star'. When seen as herself, rather than the roles she plays, she's like a friendly middle-aged mum - someone you'd love to join for a cup of tea and a chat.

A single mother

And she is a mum in Secrets & Lies. She has a rather grumpy grown up daughter and she had previously given birth to another girl. when she was just fifteen. She'd had her first daughter adopted and had been so distressed that she hadn't even been able to hold - or even look at - the baby she gave up.

Searching for a birth mother

Now, twenty-something years later, that daughter has lost her adoptive parents and is looking for her real mother. She discovers who her mother is, contacts her and the two arrange to meet.

She never knew who the father was

Cynthia, Blethyn's character, must have been quite girl in her younger years because she wasn't really sure who was the father of the baby she gave up. Take a look at the cover of the CD above and you'll see why both women, mother and daughter, were surprised (to put it mildly) when they met.

Not just a colour issue

One of the reasons this film is so amazing is that the daughter is distinctly more educated, successful and better off than her working-class mother.

What impact would this have on the family?

Would the two women become friends?

The film asks - and answers - many questions.

Once you've seen one, you'll want more

I haven't seen the film below but it's high on my list.It looks completely fascinating

Below are four videos showing the films I've spoken about above. These will admirably show you the diversity of Brenda Blethyn's roles and give you a flavour of the movies themselves.

Which is my favourite? Oh, don't ask. I'm really not sure I could choose one over any other. They are all wonderful.

You'll see a few short clips from Secrets and Lies in this first video. But more than that- listen to director Mike Leigh talking about the making of the film and his approach - particularly about improvisation.

He explains how the barbecue scene took place in real time with ten hours of film which he then distilled. Interestingly, he also explains that in many countries, including the majority of the United States,it illegal for an adopted adult to trace their own birth mother.

When you watch this trailer I think you'll agree with me and put it into your own must-see list. I have no idea what this film will be like. I don't know - other than from the trailer - how the story line will develop. But the fact that the trailer alone is so moving, plus the fact that my favorite actress stars, means that I have to see this film.

In a completely different role, Brenda Blethyn plays the part of a newly-widowed woman - a pillar of society - who discovers she is left penniless.This is the trailer for this brilliant - and truly funny - film.

Yet another completely different role. Again, we see her playing the part of a single mum but this is very different. Here, she is telling her friend about the new 'love of her life' and the fun and games that they got up to. This is a truly fabulous scene.