Brenda Blethyn's 'Brilliant' Marriage Secret: Separate Floors!

For decades, Brenda Blethyn has been a prominent figure in British television, recently starring in the Britbox series "A Woman of Substance." Off-screen, the 80-year-old actress has been married to Michael Mayhew for 16 years, and the couple has been together for over 50 years. Blethyn humorously shared that a "temporary arrangement" of living on separate floors of their home is her "unconventional secret" to a lasting partnership, stating it is "working brilliantly."

This separation caters to their differing needs, with Blethyn noting, "He's always cold, and I'm always hot. I always want to watch a drama, and he wants to watch football." The couple met in 1975 at London's National Theatre. Blethyn is also renowned for her 14-year role as the titular character in the detective series "Vera."