Brenda Blethyn - IFTA In Conversation at Galway Film Fleadh

IFTA was delighted to host a special In Conversation at the Galway Film Fleadh with Brenda Blethyn, Oscar-nominated and BAFTA-winning star of film and TV including Secrets & Lies, Little Voice, Vera, Atonement and Pride & Prejudice.

Brenda won the BAFTA and Cannes Award for Best Actress, and was Oscar and Golden Globe nominated, for her lead role in Mike Leigh’s 1997 drama Secrets & Lies. She was Oscar nominated two years later for her role in Little Voice opposite Michael Caine, Jane Horrocks and Ewan McGregor. She received another BAFTA nomination for her role as Mrs. Bennet in Joe Wright’s Pride & Prejudice opposite Keira Knightley, as well as a Golden Globe nomination, Olivier Award nomination, two Emmy nominations and two Screen Actors Guild nominations across her esteemed career. 

Her latest film Dragonfly, had its Irish Premiere at the 2025 Galway Film Fleadh, Brenda stars opposite Oscar nominee Andrea Riseborough and Jason Watkins. The film is described as “a heartbreaking, tense, and atmospheric feature that will unsettle and make you challenge your preconceptions on issues like social care, and caring for the elderly and marginalised.” From writer/director Paul Andrew Williams, Dragonfly had its World Premiere at the recent Tribeca Film Festival. 

“When I was offered Dragonfly, I had only just finished theatre and I thought 'No, no, I don't want to do anything.' I didn't even unpack my bag yet… [but] I absolutely loved the script. It's putting a spotlight on the elderly, who are housebound and who have carers coming in…"

Brenda Blethyn

More about Brenda Blethyn

From 2011 until this year, Brenda starred in ITV’s beloved drama series Vera as detective Vera Stanhope, which came to an end in January after 14 seasons. She has also starred in film and TV projects including Joe Wright’s Atonement, Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It, Nicolas Roeg’s The Witches, Nicolas Cage’s Sonny, Ethel & Ernest, Mysterious Creatures, Lovely and Amazing, On a Clear Day, Yes Minister, Outside Arch, Beyond the Sea, A Way of Life, Anne Frank: The Whole Story, War & Peace and Kate & Koji. 

On stage, she has appeared in work by Edna O'Brien, Tom Stoppard, Henrik Ibsen, Oscar Wilde, Alan Bennett, George Bernard Shaw, Tennessee Williams and many more; earning an Olivier Award nomination for Michael Frayn’s Benefactors.

I think things are getting better for women. I just read that all the umpires at Wimbledon are all women. And the biggest festival, it's mainly run by women, isn't it? Brilliantly. So... people are waking up. [to applause from the audience] Women!”

Brenda Blethyn