Brenda Blethyn to star in Channel 4 drama 'A Woman of Substance
Brenda Blethyn is to star in a remake of Channel 4's biggest ever drama 'A Woman of Substance.
Filming is now underway in Yorkshire on a brand-new adaptation of A Woman of Substance for Channel 4, with Brenda Blethyn (Vera, Pride and Prejudice) starring as Emma Harte, and Jessica Reynolds (Kneecap & The Wolf, The Fox & The Leopard) portraying the younger version of the legendary character — a housemaid-turned-mogul, daughter, mother, lover, fighter, and a fierce 20th-century feminist who refused to be confined by society’s expectations.
Produced by The Forge Entertainment (National Treasure, The Buccaneers, Marriage), part of Banijay UK, the eight-part series is penned by Katherine Jakeways (The Buccaneers) and co-written by Roanne Bardsley (The Buccaneers, Screw).
The ensemble cast also features Emmett J. Scanlan (Kin, Mobland) as Adam Fairley, Lydia Leonard (The Mirror and The Light, Gentleman Jack) as Olivia Wainwright, Leanne Best (This City Is Ours, Line of Duty) as Adele Fairley, Ewan Horrocks (The Last Kingdom, Domina) as Edwin Fairley, Harry Cadby (In Flight, Everything Now) as Gerald Fairley, Will Mellor (Mr Bates vs the Post Office, Line of Duty) as Jack Harte, BAFTA-winner Lenny Rush (Am I Being Unreasonable?, Doctor Who) as Frank Harte, Niall Wright (Hope Street, Slow Horses) as Mac, Robert Wilfort (Gavin and Stacey, Wolf Hall) as Murgatroyd, Toby Regbo (Belgravia, A Discovery of Witches) as Jim Fairley, Hiftu Quasem (The Witcher, Ten Percent) as Priya Chandra, Sophie Bould (Call The Midwife, Sex Education) as Elizabeth Harte, and Georgina Sadler (Silo, Boarders) as Polly.
Set in 1911, A Woman of Substance follows Emma Harte, a determined maid from Yorkshire, as she embarks on a breathtaking journey from poverty to extraordinary wealth, eventually surveying her empire from a luxury penthouse in New York. A sweeping rags-to-riches saga, Emma’s story captures the fight of women throughout the 20th century as she smashes barriers, overturns expectations, and relentlessly pursues her ultimate ambition: to reach the very top, no matter the cost.
Originally adapted 40 years ago into an Emmy-nominated series — Channel 4’s biggest drama at the time — this fresh reimagining of Barbara Taylor Bradford’s bestselling global phenomenon brings Emma’s story to a new generation, with themes that remain strikingly relevant today.
Brenda Blethyn says: “I’m overjoyed to be taking on this iconic role, in the footsteps of the great Deborah Kerr. As a fan of Barbara Taylor-Bradford, it is an unmissable opportunity to play the fierce Emma Harte.”
Jessica Reynolds says: “To be a part of A Woman of Substance and to step into the shoes of Emma is an absolute dream for me. The team and cast we have behind this are truly inspiring and I’m so excited to bring the stunning scripts and this great piece of literature to the screen.”
Rebecca Holdsworth, Commissioning Editor, Drama at Channel 4 adds: “Attracting an ensemble cast of this quality is testament to Katherine and Roanne’s exceptional scripts. We are so excited to be bringing this fresh, sexy and bold adaptation of an iconic book to Channel 4.”
The drama is set to air later in 2025.