Miss Vera Elizabeth Claythorne was a one-time governess turned girl's school sports mistress. During the summer she had been hired to work as a secretary for Una Owen on Soldier Island.
Role in the novel (warning; contains spoilers)
She was responsible for the death of Cyril Hamilton, a child in her care while she was a governess. Vera let him drown because, in the event of Cyril' s death, her lover Hugo Hamilton (Cyril’s uncle) would inherit the estate and been able to marry her. However, when Hugo intuitively discerned what she had done, he was appalled and broke up with her.
Vera was invited to Soldier Island along with nine other people, and became increasingly distraught as each of them were murdered. After shooting Philip Lombard out of panic, she hung herself, as stated in the poem -- "One little soldier boy, left all alone / He went and hung himself and then there were none".
Portrayals
- 1945 - In the 1945 film Vera Claythorne was portrayed by June Duprez. In this adaptation she is accused of murdering her sister's fiancé.
- 1965 - In the 1965 film the character was renamed Ann Clyde and was portrayed by Shirley Eaton. She is again accused of murdering her sister's fiancé.
- 1974 - In the 1974 film the character was renamed Vera Clyde and was portrayed by Elke Sommer. She is again accused of having murdered her sister's fiancé.
- 1989 - In the 1989 film Vera Claythorne was portrayed by Sarah Maur Thorp.
- 2015 - In the 2015 BBC miniseries Vera Claythorne was portrayed by Maeve Dermody. In this version a sub-plot is added concerning a sexual affair with Philip Lombard. This does not happen in the original novel or any subsequent film or stage version.
