Brenda Blethyn has opened up about a "crushing moment" from an old theatre job and explained how it was very different on the set of Vera.
In a recent interview, Brenda recounted when she landed a job in a musical at the Belgrade Theatre in Coventry during a time in her life when she was frightened of her "own shadow".
She explained to the Times' Ben Dowell that there was an issue with a dance routine, so she raised her hand to offer help, but the director replied with "she speaks".
Ben described the incident as a "crushing moment" that would stay with the actress, who has since urged actors to ensure they make themselves heard.
Brenda said: "I am not afraid to speak my mind now. Your opinion is as good as anybody's. On Vera there was not a single ego. I have no time for all that."
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Brenda previously revealed that she would be stepping away from the ITV series but admitted that it hadn't been an easy choice, saying she would "probably be crying" by March.
"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," she explained. "But anyway it was time, that's all."
In April, it was announced that the 14-year-old show would come to an end, although a two-part finale will air tonight and tomorrow on ITV1. Speaking previously to Radio Times, Brenda said one scene was "emotional" to shoot.
She went on to say that the scene, which involves Vera and DC Kenny Lockhart, "broke" her heart when she read the script. Brenda revealed that actor Jon Morrison rang her up afterwards and thanked her for "giving us 14 years of work".
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"Jon rang me up after it was all over. And he said, 'I just wanted to thank you for giving us 14 years of work.' What a gentleman. But I thanked him and told him I certainly wasn't going to do any episodes without him which is true", reports Chronicle Live.
In the final episodes, Vera is on the case after the body of a young man is found, with the synopsis saying that the plot involves "a broken relationship, secret love, grudges, regret and fraud".
Joining Brenda on the show are David Leon as Joe Ashworth, Rhiannon Clements as Detective Steph Duncan, and Shobna Gulati as Chief Superintendent Khalon.
The final episodes of Vera air on ITV1 tonight (January 1) and tomorrow (January 2). It kicks off tonight at 8pm
