Haunting, Tense and Heartbreaking… Brenda Blethyn Is Worlds Away From Vera in a Bleak British Drama With a Huge 92% Rotten Tomatoes Score — And Critics Are Calling It an Acting Masterclass

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Brenda Blethyn’s Heartbreaking Drama Dragonfly Is Now Free to Stream on ITVX

Brenda Blethyn may be best known for her unforgettable portrayal of DCI Vera Stanhope, but her latest film role could hardly be more different.

Dragonfly, the acclaimed drama starring Blethyn alongside Andrea Riseborough and Jason Watkins, is now available to stream for free in the UK on ITVX, eight months after its theatrical release.

Written and directed by Paul Andrew Williams, the film centres on two lonely women who form an unlikely friendship. What begins as a connection between neighbours gradually takes a much darker turn as prejudice, suspicion and judgment begin to threaten their relationship, ultimately leading to a devastating conclusion.

Two women sit at a dining table, one holding a spoon, engaged in conversation.

Brenda Blethyn takes on a very different role

In Dragonfly, Blethyn leaves DCI Vera Stanhope’s familiar trench coat behind to play Elsie, a vulnerable 84-year-old woman whose circumstances bring her into contact with her younger neighbour.

The role is a striking departure from the character Blethyn played for years in ITV’s long-running crime drama Vera. Rather than the sharp-witted detective, she portrays an elderly woman in a deeply vulnerable position.

The film has been described as an “unpredictable and eerie” drama that explores the stark realities of elder care, promising a tense and unsettling story with social care at its centre.

Brenda Blethyn attends the "A Woman Of Substance" Photocall at The Soho Hotel on March 3, 2026 in London, England. (Photo by Hoda Davaine/Getty Images)

The cast of Dragonfly

Blethyn leads the cast as Elsie, while Academy Award-nominated actress Andrea Riseborough plays Colleen, Elsie’s 30-year-old neighbour.

Jason Watkins, known for roles in Line of Duty and McDonald and Dodds, plays Elsie’s son, John.

The film arrived shortly after Blethyn’s departure from Vera. Speaking to HELLO! earlier this year, the actress revealed that she was surprised by how quickly new opportunities came her way after leaving the detective series.

“I didn’t think the phone would ever ring, but it’s been ringing off the hook,” she said, adding: “I didn’t know this was going to happen.”

One of those opportunities was Dragonfly, which gave Blethyn the chance to take on a role very different from DCI Vera Stanhope.

Brenda Blethyn, with short grey hair, holds a piece of food in her hand.

What is Dragonfly about?

The story focuses on Elsie, a neglected pensioner, and Colleen, the younger woman who lives nearby.

After becoming concerned by Elsie’s poor state of care, Colleen decides to help her without asking for anything in return. Their unlikely friendship grows, but the relationship is gradually complicated by doubts about Colleen’s motives.

According to the film’s Tribeca synopsis, “Colleen’s intentions may not be exactly as they seem.” As suspicion builds, a shocking incident sets off a violent chain of events that threatens to permanently change both women’s lives.

The film has been described as a “heartbreaking, tense and atmospheric feature that will unsettle and make you challenge your preconceptions.”

At its heart is a much wider issue: the treatment of elderly and marginalised people and the challenges surrounding social care and caring for older adults. The story confronts those subjects directly while maintaining an increasingly tense atmosphere.

Andrea Riseborough on pink carpet in black dress

Critics and viewers praise the performances

Dragonfly has made a strong impression with both audiences and critics, earning a 92 per cent score on Rotten Tomatoes.

Viewers have praised the film as a “beautifully written drama and an acting masterclass”, while another audience member congratulated Blethyn, Riseborough and the wider team, calling it a fantastic film that everyone should see.

Critics have also singled out the two leading performances.

The Guardian awarded the film four stars and described it as a “haunting, genre-defying drama.” The Hollywood Reporter was similarly impressed, praising Blethyn and Riseborough as they “dazzle in a bleak British shocker.”

The two actresses also shared the Best Performance award at the Tribeca Film Festival for their work in the film.

How to watch Dragonfly

For viewers in the UK, Dragonfly is now available to stream for free on ITVX.

The film offers Brenda Blethyn fans a chance to see the actress in a role that is a world away from DCI Vera Stanhope, with Andrea Riseborough and Jason Watkins joining her in the tense and emotionally charged drama.