Brenda Blethyn

Brenda Blethyn appears in Atonement this autumn

In a Hardtalk Extra programme broadcast on Friday 9th July, Gavin Esler talks to the actress Brenda Blethyn.

Brenda Blethyn is probably best known for her work with film director Mike Leigh, particularly the acclaimed role of Cynthia in Secrets and Lies.

But in the course of her acting career, which only really took off for her as she reached middle age, she has starred with the likes of Brad Pitt, Michael Caine, Robert Redford and more recently, Keira Knightley.

She tells Gavin Esler how she built herself an acting career - an idea she admits seemed "far fetched" to an impoverished youngster from Ramsgate after the war.

HARDtalk Extra can be seen on BBC World at 0330 GMT, 0830 GMT, 1430 GMT, and 1830 GMT.

It can also be seen on BBC News 24 at 04:30 and 23:30.