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Brenda Blethyn has revealed she based her Northumberland accent for new ITV detective drama Vera on Cheryl Cole.
While it's being questioned whether US audiences will understand Cheryl's Geordie accent, Oscar-nominated actress Brenda has been watching Cheryl, and And and Dec, to try to imitate their pronunciation.
Brenda revealed: "I had a teacher. It's a notoriously difficult one to do, but then there are so many people on TV these days, you've got Ant and Dec, you know, and Cheryl Cole so I listened to her for a little bit."
She went on: "And filming in Northumberland I was surrounded by the accent, so I worked at it hard and the local people say it's on the money, so I'm thrilled at that, because I love the sound of it too, I love that accent."
The 65-year-old Secrets And Lies star braved the cold to star as DCI Vera Stanhope, in the TV adaptation of Ann Cleeves' novels, and admits she is glad she had to wear so many layers to play the uncoventional policewoman while filming on location.
She said: "The weather in Northumberland went from one extreme to another.
"It was so cold up there, but fortunately for me and Vera, she wears layers and layers of clothes to build up her physique so I was less cold than most of the other people."
:: Vera starts on Sunday, May 1 on ITV1.
