Brenda Blethyn thinks Vera Stanhope was initially a very tough sell to TV viewers.
The 73-year-old actress has starred in the crime drama series since 2011, and Brenda admits the British public took some time to warm to the character.
She shared: "I don’t think people liked her very much. But then they could see she was respected by her team and she would defend them like a mother [dog] her puppies. So people began to warm to her.
"There are lots of good crime stories on telly but she’s different. She looks like someone who could live down the street. You don’t know much about her personal life, you’re not lusting after her, so nothing gets in the way of the drama.
"It’s also good to see a woman of her age in a position of authority, telling a load of men what to do. I know lots of women around her age rejoice in that."
Brenda thinks she shares some similarities with her on-screen character.
And the veteran actress – who is known for her portrayals of working-class women – traces the similarities to her own humble background.
She told the BBC: "I’m a coper and can be pretty independent. And solving puzzles has been my passion from when I was a kid.
"We didn’t have a TV and the radio would get cut off because the bill hadn’t been paid. Still now, I challenge my brother every day to do the Times cryptic crossword."
Brenda Blethyn admits Vera was a tough sell to viewers
