Top 49 Most Popular Welsh Actors Of All Time

 

The United Kingdom is a country made up of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland.

 

The people from Wales are called Welsh and maintain a unique identity, language, and history.

 

This uniqueness can also be seen in Welsh actors and actresses. Welsh people are descendants of Celts, and we can see the influence of Celtic language, pronunciation, cultural influences, etc., to this day.

 

Their mythology consists of dragons, druids, magic, and most of the Arthurian tales. Considering such interesting mythology, Welsh actors, artists, and literature are equally magical, interesting, and steeped in traditions.

 

Some popular Welsh artists are Roald Dahl, Dylan Thomas, Bertrand Russell, Sir Anthony Hopkins, Tom Jones, Bonnie Taylor, Catherine Zeta-Jones, etc.

 

Let us explore the film world to find more Welsh actors who have left their mark.

 

Some of them we know and some of the names might surprise you. So, let us start on our list of popular Welsh actors.

 

 

 

1. Anthony Hopkins

 

 

 

Sir Anthony Hopkins is a highly respected Welsh actor, director, and producer. He received six Oscar nominations, out of which he won two Oscars for Silence of The Lambs and The Father.

 

He trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and the RADA. He performed at the National Youth Theater upon an invitation from Laurence Olivier.

 

Hopkins starred in films like The Remains of the Day, A Bridge Too Far, The Elephant Man, The Silence of the Lambs, Howards End, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Shadowlands, Legends of the Fall, Meet Joe Black, The Mask of Zorro, the Thor franchise, etc.

 

In 2012, Anthony Hopkins released his first single titled Distant Star. He revealed that he had composed music all his life and loved music.

 

In 2011, Andre Rieu presented a waltz that Hopkins had composed in 1964.

 

 

 

2. Christian Bale

 

 

 

Christian Bale is a Welsh actor who was nominated for four Academy Awards for films, including  Vice, Ford v.Ferrari, The Fighter, American Hustle, The Machinist, American Psycho, Fighter, etc. He was also nominated for BAFTAs, Golden Globes, SAG awards, etc.

 

Christian Bale started learning Ballet from a young age. He appeared in TV commercials before he was cast in Steven Spielberg’s Empire of the Sun.

 

His other notable films include Newsies, Reign of Fire, the Dark Knight trilogy, Public Enemies, Out of the Furnace, Exodus: Gods and Kings, The Equilibrium, etc.

 

 

 

3. Richard Burton

 

 

 

Richard Burton was born Richard Walter Jenkins Jr. in a coal miner’s family. He was the twelfth child among thirteen and grew up with his sister’s family.

 

As a child, he had a singing voice and won a local talent competition. This encouraged him to learn singing from Philip Burton, who trained and taught him.

 

Richard Burton began doing radio programs, West-end plays, and more. His performance was highly praised, and he was considered to be the successor of Laurence Olivier.

 

However, Burton moved to Hollywood and reduced his stage activity. This disappointed his critics and called him a wasted talent.

 

However, in Hollywood, Richard Burton was highly successful and earned seven Oscar nominations, He was the highest-paid actor of his era with an earning of $1 million per film and a share in the profits.

 

 

 

4. Michael Sheen

 

 

 

Michael Sheen is a Welsh stage, film, and TV actor. He also produces TV shows and series.

 

He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and immediately began acting on stage.

 

Sheen has performed in several acclaimed and award-winning West-End productions and earned four nominations for Laurence Olivier Awards.

 

His plays include Look Back In Anger, Amadeus,  Romeo and Juliet, Don’t Fool with Love, Peer Gynt, The Seagull, The Homecoming, Henry V, etc.

 

He finally debuted in a TV series and quickly rose to prominence with TV and film roles in  The Deal, The Queen, The Special Relationship, Fantabulosa!, Good Omens, Underworld: Rise of The Lycans, 30Rock, The Twilight Saga, Midnight in Paris, etc.

 

 

5. Ivor Novello

 

 

 

Ivor Novello is the stage name of David Ivor Davies. He was one of the greatest British composers, during the early 1900s.

 

Novello was an actor, singer, composer, and dramatist, and he has an award instituted in his name for excellence in songwriting and composing.

 

Novello was a composer of musical theatre, where he wrote and composed musical comedies and operettas.

 

His shows were very popular and successful. In the 1920s, Ivor Novello tried his hand at acting and appeared in When The Boys Leave Home, The Lodger: A Story of the London Fog, The Dancing Years, etc.

 

He also composed and wrote hit songs like Keep the Home Fires Burning, We’ll Gather Lilacs, Fly Home Little Heart, Take Your Girl, Primrose, etc.

 

 

6. Ray Milland

 

 

 

Alfred Reginald Jones is the birth name of Ray Milland. He was a Welsh-American actor and director.

 

Milland served in Britain’s Household cavalry and was an expert marksman, pilot, and horseman. He was also a boxer.

 

After his duty, Milland began working as a film extra and moved to America. In Hollywood, Milland worked in minor and supporting roles for many years before he got his break with Three Smart Girls in 1936.

 

The same year, he also played his first lead role in The Jungle Princess, which was a hit.

 

After that, he starred in many hit films The Lost Weekend, Reap The Wild Wind,  The Uninvited, Ministry of Fear, The Big Clock, The Thief, etc.

 

For his roles, Ray Milland won an Academy Award, a Cannes Film Festival Award, a Golden Globe Award, etc.

 

His biggest hits include Dial M For Murder, Love Story, Easy Living, etc.

 

 

7. Timothy Dalton

 

 

 

Timothy Leonard Dalton Leggett is a British actor born in Wales. He was a successful stage actor, and his film roles famously included the James Bond franchise.

 

As a teenager, Dalton watched the play Macbeth and decided to become an actor. He enrolled in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

 

While his father’s side of the family was happy with his career choice, his mother’s family was sceptical about the stability of acting as a profession.

 

Timothy Dalton starred in films like Lion in Winter, Mary, Queen of Scots, Wuthering Heights, Jane Eyre, Flash Gordon, Looney Toons: Back In Action, The Rocketeers, Penny Dreadful, Doom Patrol, etc.

 

He was also the fourth actor to play James Bond.

 

 

8. Terry Jones

 

 

 

Terence Graham Parry ‘Terry‘ Jones was a Welsh actor, comedian, writer, and director. He was a literature student at Oxford University, where he performed in stand-up comedy for the Oxford Revue.

 

He met his fellow Monty Python customer, Michael Palin in Oxford. Both of them made stand-up routines and comedy sketches.

 

After graduating, Palin and Terry Jones continued to work on television comedy shows like Do Not Adjust Your Set, The Frost Report, etc.

 

They met Eric Idle, John Cleese, Graham Chapman, and Terry Gilliam to form the comedy troupe called Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

 

This troupe made many comedy movies, and Jones directed the films like Holy Grails, Life of Brian, The Meaning of Life, Ripping Yarn, etc.

 

Terry Jones was also a history buff and wrote many books and documentaries on medieval history.

 

 

9. John Rhys-Davies

 

 

 

John Rhys-Davies is an English actor born to Welsh parents. He is best known for his roles as Salah in the Indiana Jones series, Gimli in the Lord of The Rings trilogy,  Leonid Pushkin of the James Bond series, The Untouchables (TV series), Sliders, Robin of Sherwood, etc.

 

Rhys-Davies was among the first one hundred students of the University of East Anglia, and he was one of the founders of the drama club at the university.

 

He also worked as a teacher before he was admitted to the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art.

 

John Rhys-Davies has a distinctive rumbling voice that he has used in doing voice work as Treebeard in Lord of The Rings, Cassim in Aladdin and the King of Thieves, Man-Ray in Sponge-Bob Squarepants, Macbeth in Gargoyles, etc.

 

 

10. Jonathan Pryce

 

 

 

Sir Jonathan Pryce was born John Price in Flintshire, Wales. He was studying to become a teacher when he had his first role in a theatre play.

 

Pryce gave a stellar performance, and his drama teacher was so impressed that he submitted an application to RADA on his behalf of Pryce.

 

They offered him a scholarship to study drama at RADA. After graduation, Jonathan Pryce worked in theatre, and Shakespeare plays in his initial years.

 

He won Tony Awards and Laurence Olivier Awards for his work. Later, Pryce moved to television and films as well.

 

He also earned a nomination for an Oscar, two BAFTAs, Golden Globes, Primetime Emmys, etc.

 

Some of the prominent performances of Jonathan Pryce were in Glengarry Glen Ross, The Wife, Tomorrow Never Dies, Two Popes, Evita, Brazil, the Pirates of the Caribbean series, Game of Thrones, Wolf Hall, etc.

 

 

11. Taron Egerton

 

 

 

Taron Egerton is an English actor of Welsh origin. His first name, Taron, means Thunder in Welsh.

 

He grew up in Anglesey in Wales and later moved to Aberystwyth. As a result of missing his friends, Egerton started to feel lonely and took up drama classes to overcome it.

 

He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in 2012. Taron Egerton began acting in theatre and film roles, but he gained recognition only after his role as Eggsy in Kingsman: The Secret Society.

 

He reprised his role in the sequel as well. His other notable films include Testament of Youth, Eddie The Eagle, Rocketman, Black Bird, etc.

 

Taron Egerton was nominated for two BAFTA awards, a Grammy Award, etc. He won a Golden Globe Award, an Empire Award, etc.

 

 

12. Ioan Gruffudd

 

 

 

Ioan Gruffudd is a Welsh actor with many talents. He can play the Oboe with the proficiency of Grade 8 level in the ABRSM exams.

 

He worked in the South Glamorgan Youth Orchestra, and he also sings with a deep baritone.

 

His singing skill has won him prizes at the National Eisteddfod. Apart from this, Gruffudd loved acting and joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and pursued a career in theatre with plays like Hedda Gabler.

 

Soon, he started to get film and TV offers in Wilde, Poldark, Titanic, Hornblower, etc.

 

Ioan Gruffudd became famous when he was cast as Dr Reed Richards in The Fantastic Four and its sequel.

 

He followed it up with 102 Dalmatians, Black Hawk Down, The Gathering, Sanctum, Horrible Bosses, Foster, The Adventurer: The Curse of the Midas Box, San Andreas, Liar, Harrow, etc.

 

 

13. Rob Brydon

 

 

 

Robert Brydon Jones is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer, and producer. He developed a love for comedy from his school days and future comics and actors in his school, like Eddie Izzard, Ruth Jones, etc.

 

He also met Catherine Zeta-Jones in his school and retold an incident where one day, he stole her lunch money.

 

Rob Brydon attended the Royal Welsh Academy of Music and Drama for a year before he joined BBC Radio Wales and began his career.

 

Brydon did multiple jobs on the radio as a DJ, a stand-up comic, a presenter, etc.

 

His screen roles on TV and films include Supernova, Gavin & Stacey, Marion and Geoff, The Keith Barret Show, The Trip series, The Gruffalo, 24 Hour Party People, and The Huntsman: Winter’s War Holmes & Watson, etc.

 

 

14. Rhys Ifans

 

 

 

Rhys Ifans was born Rhys Owain Evans. He is an actor and a musician. He is the lead vocalist of two Welsh rock bands, the Peth and Super Furry Animals.

 

Ifans graduated from Guildhall School of Music and Drama in 1997. Rhys Ifans starred in several stage plays like Hamlet, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Under Milk Wood,  Volpone,  etc.

 

He debuted in the TV series Slac yn Dynn and went on to perform in films and series like Notting Hill, Anonymous, Snowden, The Amazing Spider-man, Kevin & Perry Go Large, Enduring Love, etc.

 

 

15. Luke Evans

 

 

 

Luke Evans is a Welsh actor and singer. He quit school at 16 years and moved to Cardiff to train in singing under a coach.

 

He earned a scholarship to attend the London Studio Center and graduated from there in 2000.

 

From then onwards, he performed in West-End plays like Miss Saigon, Avenue Q, Rent, Taboo, La Cava, etc.

 

Luke Evans got his break when he was cast in the remake of Clash Of Titans.

 

Later, he was cast in more prominent and lead roles in hit films like Immortals, The Raven, The Three Musketeers,  The Hobbit trilogy, The Fast & Furious 6, Dracula Untold, etc.

 

The more recent roles of Luke Evans were in Beauty and The Beast, Professor Marston and Wonder Woman, The Pembrokeshire Murders, Nine Perfect Strangers, etc.

 

 

16. Tom Ellis

 

 

 

Thomas John Ellis is a Welsh actor who is famous for his role in the Netflix series Lucifer.

 

He plays the DC Comics character, Lucifer Morningstar, who escapes from Hell to have a holiday on Earth.

 

He reprised this role in the Crisis of Infinite Earth from the Arrowverse. Ellis graduated from the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Dramatic Art before he began his career.

 

Yet he got his breakout role after a long wait with Miranda. Following this, he starred in Rush, The Fades, Isn’t It Romantic, Vera Drake, etc.

 

Ellis also starred in other popular series like EastEnders, The Flash, Under Milk Wood, Casualty, Doctor Who, No Angels, Midsomer Murders, etc.

 

 

17. Desmond Llewelyn

 

 

 

Desmond Llewelyn was a Welsh actor with a special distinction. He was the first actor to portray Q, the Quartermaster of the MI6 gadgets division.

 

He portrayed these roles for all five James Bond actors before Daniel Craig, from 1963 to 1999.

 

Llewelyn was a rugby player and cricketer in his youth. When the war broke out, he served in the Royal Welch Fusiliers.

 

He was captured by the Germans and stayed in the POW camp for five years.

 

After his release, Llewelyn got back to his first love of acting and worked in the war film They Were Not Divided.

 

It introduced him to the role in James Bond films. He also starred in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Huckleberry Finn, etc.

 

 

18. Matthew Rhys

 

 

 

Matthew Rhys Evans is a Welsh actor. He turned into a producer of TV documentaries in 2006.

 

He also produced the series Perry Mason, in which he also played the lead role.

 

Rhys studied in Welsh language school till he completed high school and joined the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art with the Patricia Rothermere Scholarship.

 

Matthew Rhys worked in House of America and BBC TV series, Backup while still studying in RADA.

 

He began work in theatre plays and television series after graduation. Some of the famous roles of Matthew Rhys have been in Brothers and Sisters, The Americans, The Edge of Love, The Post, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Perry Mason, Burnt, etc.

 

Rhys was nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy Awards, Golden Globes, BAFTA Cymru, etc.

 

 

19. Iwan Rheon

 

 

 

Iwan Rheon is a Welsh actor and musician. He and his brother, Aled, started performing together in 2015.

 

He was a part of the band The Convictions before leaving the band and starting his solo career.

 

He released three EPs and his studio album, Dinard. Rheon debuted in the Welsh TV series Pobol y Cwm but left midways to pursue his acting course at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

 

After graduation, he worked in television, film, and stage plays. Iwan Rheon’s most popular performances have been in Misfits, Game of Thrones, The Dirt, Vicious, Riviera,  Inhumans, Our Girl, The Prince, Y Golau, etc.

 

 

20. Keith Allen

 

 

 

Keith Allen is a Welsh actor, comedian, and occasional musician. As a child, Allen was prone to be expelled due to his disorderly behaviour and stealing.

 

He was also sent to a Borstal school to correct his behaviour. Keith Allen worked many odd jobs in his youth.

 

Some of them were a stagehand, a choir singer, etc. These experiences were the driving force that led him to his comedy career.

 

Allen starred in many black comedies, parodies, and comedy films. They include The Others, 24-Hour Party People, Kingsmen: The Secret Service, Shallow Grave, etc.

 

Keith Allen also tried his hand at directing music videos. He worked on the music video for Meteor Madness, New Order, Blur, etc.

 

He was a member of the band Atoms and Fat Les.

 

 

21. Gwilym Lee

 

 

 

Gwilym Lee is a Welsh actor who has worked in films, television, stage, and radio.

 

He was born to Welsh parents in Bristol and went on to study English literature at Cardiff University.

 

He also studied drama at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and won the Guildhall Gold Medal.

 

Gwilym Lee is best known for Jamestown, Midsomer Murders, Top End Wedding, The Great, Bohemian Rhapsody, Fresh Meat, The Tourist, etc.

 

Lee also performed on stage in many acclaimed plays like King Lear, Hamlet, Oedipus, Richard III, The Promise, etc.

 

He won the Ian Charleson Awards in 2008 for his work at The National Youth Theater.

 

 

22. Andy Whitfield

 

 

 

Andy Whitfield was a Welsh actor who worked in Australian and American television and film projects.

 

He studied civil engineering in Wales and moved to Australia for work. There he developed an interest in acting and starred in TV series like All Saints, McCleod’s Daughters, Packed To The Rafters, etc.

 

He landed the lead role in the Australian supernatural film Gabriel, which was a hit.

 

He also starred in the American TV series Spartacus, its prequel, and The Clinic. Although he was slated to reprise his role in season 2 of Spartacus, Whitfield was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma.

 

Despite the initial success of his treatment, Whitfield suffered a relapse and died in 2011.

 

 

23. Stanley Baker

 

 

 

Sir William Stanley Baker was a Welsh actor and producer of great prominence. He was one of the top actors in Britain in the 1950s, and he was known for his silent, strong and dependable personality that added more character to all the roles he played.

 

Stanley Baker was a theatre actor before he was drafted into the army for WWII.

 

After returning, he began to take up supporting roles in film and TV. Later he graduated to lead roles, and his memorable films were Guns of Navarone, Hell Drivers, Zulu, Yesterday’s Enemy, Sands of Kalahari, The Man Who Finally Died, etc.

 

Baker was nominated for a BAFTA award for his role in Yesterday’s Enemy. He earned a Primetime Emmy nomination for the BBC series, How Green Was My Valley.

 

He was offered a knighthood in 1976 but died before the investiture due to lung cancer.

 

 

24. Paul Whitehouse

 

 

 

Paul Whitehouse is a Welsh comedian, actor, writer, and musician. He formed a punk rock band, The Higsons, and tried playing.

 

However, he discovered his talent for writing sketch comedy while he was neighbours with Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie.

 

This united him with his collaborator, Harry Enfield. Whitehouse wrote sketches for Enfield, and later, they created the show Harry & Paul and Harry Enfield & Chums.

 

Whitehouse also starred in TV series like The Fast Show, The Death of Stalin, Corpse Bride, Alice Through The Looking Glass, etc.

 

Paul Whitehouse was nominated for multiple BAAFTAs, British Comedy Awards, etc. In a 2005 poll of Comedian of Comedians, Whitehouse was ranked among the 50 great comedians by his peers.

 

 

25. Aneurin Barnard

 

 

 

Aneurin Barnard is a Welsh actor who has worked in West-end plays, films, and television.

 

He is highly regarded for his work in theatre. Barnard is the son of a coal miner and a factory worker but had a passion for acting.

 

So, he trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. In 2003, before he graduated from the academy, Barnard starred in the TV series Jacob’s Ladder.

 

He also worked on stage plays that won him accolades like the Laurence Olivier Award.

 

His plays were Spring Awakening, Hobson’s Choice, The Importance of Being Earnest, West Side Story, etc.

 

Aneurin Barnard worked in TV series and movies like Dunkirk, Cilla, The Goldfinch, War & Peace, Hunky Dory, The Truth About Emanuel, Thirteen, The White Queen, Dead in a Week (Or Your Money Back), etc.

 

 

26. Craig Roberts

 

 

 

Craig Roberts is an actor from Wales. He started as a child actor and appeared in a couple of TV series.

 

Some of them are Casualty, Care, Little Pudding, The Story of Tracy Beaker, Young Dracula, etc., which offered him supporting roles.

 

In 2010, Roberts got his big break with the lead role in the film, Submarine.

 

It was an adaptation of the novel by Richard Ayoade. Later, Roberts went on to star in Fundamentals of Caring, Neighbors, Just Jim, Being Human, Skins, etc.

 

Craig Roberts also worked in music videos for Kassidy, Manic Street Preachers, and The Killers.

 

He performed on stage in Plays like Full Time, Snow White, etc.

 

 

27. Ian Whyte

 

 

 

Ian Whyte is a Welsh basketball player turned stuntman and actor. With his colossal height of 7 feet 1 inch, Ian Whyte played professional basketball for Newcastle Eagles and was a member of the England National squad with 80 caps.

 

After his sports career ended, he became a stuntman and actor. Whyte appeared in science fiction and fantasy series like Alien vs Predator, Clash of Kings, Game Of Thrones, Prometheus, Dragonball Evolution, etc.

 

He is also known for his roles in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, Rogue One, Outcast, Solomon Kane, The Nortman, etc.

 

 

28. Owain Yeoman

 

 

 

Owain Sebastian Yeoman is a Welsh actor who made his debut in the Oscar-nominated film Troy, where he played Lysander.

 

He developed an interest in the English language and studied English literature at Oxford University where he did his BA and MA.

 

Next, he went ahead to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. After making his debut in Troy, Yeoman appeared in supporting roles and guest roles in successful series like Midsomer Murders, Generation Kill, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, etc.

 

The most memorable roles of Owain Yeoman have been in The Mentalist, Emergence, Brahms: The Boy II, SAS: Red Notice, TURN: Washington’s Spies, etc.

 

 

29. Robert Pugh

 

 

 

Robert Pugh is an actor born in the tiny mining village of Tynte near Pontypridd.

 

He watched the James Bond film From Russia With Love and developed an interest in acting.

 

He studied drama at Mountview Academy of Theater Arts and graduated from Rose Bruford College.

 

In the early part of his career, Robert Pugh mostly starred in television series like Survivor, Casualty, Thin Air, etc.

 

He starred in Welsh language productions Terra Nova and Milwr Bychan. The other notable works of Pugh include Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World, Robin Hood, Kingdom of Heaven, The Ghost Writer, The Thirteenth Tale, etc.

 

 

30. Richard Harrington

 

 

 

Richard Harrington is an actor and stage performer. He won the BAFTA Cymru award twice and has two more nominations.

 

Harrington has admitted that despite being Welsh, his Welsh accent was not perfect.

 

He learned it as a second language and picked up fluency in Welsh only while filming Hinterland (Y Gwyll in Welsh) Richard Harrington acted in many more successful projects like Wales Playhouse, The Crown, Gangs of London, Poldark, Coronation Street, Spooks, Casualty, Holby City, Hustle, Dalziel and Pascoe, Silent Witness, etc.

 

 

31. Greg Davies

 

 

 

Gregory Daniel Davies is a Welsh comedian, actor, and writer. He wrote the screenplay for comedy shows and comedy specials like Greg Davies: Firing Cheeseballs at a Dog, Ask Rhod Gilbert, The Klang Show, Nelly Nut Live!, The Wall, etc.

 

Before he began his showbiz career, Davies taught drama to secondary school children. Greg Davis earned a nomination for a BAFTA for his comedy work in the series Cuckoo.

 

His other memorable performances include We Are Klang, The Inbetweeners, Taskmaster, Man Down, The Cleaners, etc.

 

He also worked in comedy shows and specials like Mock the Week, Fast and Loose, Live at the Apollo, and Would I Lie to You?

 

 

32. Owen Teale

 

 

 

Owen Teale is a Welsh actor known for being a character actor. He trained at the Guildford School of Acting before he began work on television series and shows.

 

He worked in TV series like Doctor Who, David Copperfield, Ballykissangel, Conspiracy, Torchwood, Midsomer Murders, etc.

 

The most famous roles of Teale have been in Game of Thrones, The Last Legion, Robinhood, Tolkien, King Arthur, The Hollow Crown – Henry V, Kidnap and Ransom, Line of Duty, etc.

 

Teale also worked in theatre plays and won the Tony Award for his play A Doll’s House.

 

 

33. Philip Madoc

 

 

 

Philip Madoc was born Philip Arvon Jones in Glamorgan, Wales. He is well-known to have a resounding voice and spoke up to seven languages.

 

He is known to speak many languages like Russian, Swedish, Hindi, Mandarin, etc. He worked as an interpreter but lost interest in the job.

 

So, he took up acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts., Madoc starred in stage productions of Othello, Dr. Faust, etc.

 

His TV and film roles included The Life and Times of David Lloyd George, A Mind To Kill, The Avengers, Doctor Who, The Quiller Memorandum (, Berserk!, Doppelgänger, Hell Boats, Dr Jekyll and Sister Hyde, Soft Beds, Hard Battles, etc.

 

 

34. Griff Rhys Jones

 

 

 

Griff Rhys Jones is a Welsh actor, comedian, writer, and Tv presenter. He hosted the Bloopers show, It’ll be Alright on the Night.

 

He is also known for his work on sketch comedy shows like Alas Smith and Jones, Not the Nine O’Clock News, The Atkinson People, etc.

 

Griff Rhys Jones worked on stage in comedy plays and won accolades. He won the Laurence Olivier Award and starred in Charley’s Aunt, Absolute Turkey, Oliver!, etc.

 

Jones has presented many British documentaries like A Great Welsh Adventure with Griff Rhys Jone, Griff’s Great Britain, Griff’s Great Australian Adventure, etc.

 

 

35. Tom Cullen

 

 

 

Tom Cullen is a Welsh actor and director. He also writes short films like Naughties and Kingfisher.

 

He did editorial work for magazines like L’Uomo Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vanity Fair, 10 Magazine, etc.

 

As a director, Cullen made Pink Wall and co-produced it. Tom Cullen has starred in Downton Abbey, Knightfall, Weekend, Castle In The Ground, The Other Half, Black Mirror, Becoming Elizabeth, Gunpowder, The Five, etc.

 

He won a Screen Actors Guild Award, a British Independent Film Award, etc.

 

 

36. Roger Rees

 

 

 

Roger Rees is a Welsh-born American actor and director. He is more acclaimed for his stage work in the West-End, Broadway, and Off-Broadway shows.

 

Rees won an Olivier Award, a Tony Award, an Obie Award, etc. Some of his successful plays are The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

 

The End of the Day, Peter and the Starcatcher, etc. Roger Rees starred in memorable roles in Cheers!, The West Wing, Warehouse 13, Frida, The Pink Panther, The Prestige, etc.

 

 

37. Aneurin Barnard

 

 

Aneurin Barnard is a Welsh actor known for his diverse roles in film and television. Born in Ogmore Vale, Wales, in 1987, Barnard developed a passion for acting early on and pursued his talent at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. 

 

His breakthrough role came in 2011 with the film “Hunky Dory,” where he played the lead character of Davey, a young man struggling with his identity and sexuality amidst the backdrop of 1970s Wales.

 

Barnard’s career has since taken him to various projects, showcasing his versatility and range. He has played King Richard III in the BBC miniseries “The White Queen,” Gibson in Christopher Nolan’s war epic “Dunkirk,” and the troubled Boris Pavlikovsky in the film “The Goldfinch.” 

 

His television credits also include notable roles in “Cilla,” “Thirteen,” “War & Peace,” and “Peaky Blinders.” Aneurin Barnard’s acting has been consistently praised for its authenticity, emotional depth, and ability to connect with audiences.
 

 

 

38. Richard Brake

 

 

 

Richard Brake is a Welsh-born American actor. He has worked in many highly acclaimed films throughout his career.

 

Brake is a character actor who trained in drama in London and New York before he started working.

 

Some of Richard Brake’s major films were Doom, 31, Kingsman: The Secret Service, Hannibal Rising, Cold Mountain, Water For The Elephants, Game of Thrones, Mandy, Batman Begins, Absentia, Peaky Blinders, etc.

 

 

39. Hugh Griffith

 

 

 

Hugh Griffith is a highly regarded Welsh actor who worked on stage and film. Griffith always loved acting and wanted to study at the university, but failed his English test.

 

Without getting discouraged, he took up a job as a bank clerk and moved to London, where he saved up to join the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts.

 

After serving in the Royal Welch Fusiliers in WWII, Griffith came back to resume his acting dream in 1946.

 

He performed in many plays in London and Broadway which earned him nominations for Tony Awards.

 

He also starred in many acclaimed films. Hugh Griffith won the Academy Award for his role in Ben-Hur.

 

He also starred in Oliver!, Tom Jones, How to Steal a Million, Exodus, Mutiny on the Bounty, The Hound of the Baskervilles, etc.

 

 

40. Tom Jones

 

 

Sir Tom Jones, born Thomas John Woodward, OBE, is a Welsh singer and actor who has achieved international fame. While his primary career focuses on music, he has also appeared in several films and television shows. He has a strong baritone voice and a charismatic stage presence, which made him a popular choice for acting roles. 

 

Jones began his acting career in 1966, appearing in several British films and television shows. He also hosted his own variety show, “This Is Tom Jones,” which was broadcast in the United States. The show was a popular success, and Jones was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy in 1970. 

 

In 1996, he played a supporting role in the film “Mars Attacks!”, and he also appeared in an episode of the British television series “Playhouse Presents”, “Imagine”, “Agnes Browne”, etc.
 

 

 

41. Roger Livesey

 

 

 

Roger Livesey was a Welsh actor known for his husky voice, athletic physique, and gentle mannerisms.

 

He began his career on stage after training under Italia Conti. He toured with the West-End theatre company and performed in several plays in the UK and America.

 

Livesey could not serve in the armed forces during world war II due to his age, yet he worked in the Air Force factory.

 

Some of the most memorable performances of Roger Livesey have been in The Life and Death of Colonel Blimp, I Know Where I’m Going!,  A Matter of Life and Death, The Master of Ballantrae, The League of Gentlemen, Stairway to Heaven, etc.

 

 

42. Mervyn Johns

 

 

 

David Mervyn Johns is a Welsh actor known for his character acting on television and in films.

 

He graduated from the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts with a Gold Medal and commenced work in stage plays.

 

Johns debuted in films in 1934 with Lady in Danger. His prominent roles have been in Dead of Night, The Master of Ballantrae, A Christmas Carol, Invasion of the Triffids, Dixon of Dock Green, The Avengers (TV Series), The Saint, Danger Man, etc.

 

 

43. Harry Secombe

 

 

 

Sir Harold Donald ‘Harry’ Secombe was a Welsh comedian, actor, singer, and TV presenter. After his education, Secombe worked as a clerk in a store, but he loved to play sketch comedy.

 

When the war clouds loomed, he was drafted into the army and served in Northern Africa, Sicily, and Italy.

 

Even during his days in the army, Secombe put on comedy shows and sketches to boost the morale of the troops.

 

He worked on BBC radio on sketch comedy shows aimed at servicemen. After being demobilized from the army, he worked as an actor.

 

The memorable roles of Harry Secombe are in the radio show The Goon Show, The Bed Sitting Room, Oliver!, Song of Norway, Sunstruck, etc.

 

 

44. Bernard Fox

 

 

 

Bernard Fox was born Bernard Lawson into a family of performers. His parents were Welsh stage actors, and his uncle was the British actor Wilfrid Lawson.

 

Following in his parent’s footsteps, Fox started working on theatre plays and became an assistant theatre manager.

 

When World War II broke out, Bernard Fox served in the Royal Navy, from which he retired after the Korean War.

 

At this point, Bernard Fox began acting in films and television in both the US and the UK.

 

His famous roles were in Titanic, The Mummy, The Rescuers, The Rescuers Down Under, The Andy Griffith Show, Bewitched, Hogan’s Heroes, Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo, McHale’s Navy;  The Man from U. N. C. L. E. etc.

 

 

45. Christopher Timothy

 

 

 

Christopher Timothy is an actor who worked on stage plays, films, and television. He graduated from the Central School of Speech and Drama and went to work in the National Theatre Company under Laurence Olivier.

 

He performed in numerous plays like The Master Builder, Juno and the Paycock,  Othello, etc.

 

Timothy appeared in many TV series and films. His notable roles have been in Doctors, Olivier’s Othello, All Creatures Great and Small, Murder Most English: A Flaxborough Chronicle, Some Mothers Do ‘Ave ‘Em, EastEnders, Casualty, etc.

 

 

46. Shaheen Jafargholi

 

 

 

Shaheen Jafargholi is a Welsh actor and singer of Iranian descent. He was a child actor who appeared in minor roles on television.

 

He also worked in television commercials for Delta Air Lines, Debenhams, and DFS. Jafagholi participated in season 3 of Britain’s Got Talent to win the sixth spot in the finale episode.

 

His singing career was launched, and Jafargholi performed a few concerts as well. Yet, acting has been his central career.

 

Shaheen Jafargholi starred in TV series like Casualty, Eastenders, Torchwood, Children in Need, Holby City, etc.

 

 

47. Jason Hughes

 

 

 

Jason Hughes is a Welsh actor whose father is of Italian descent. Hughes wanted to play Rugby or Cricket for the country, but he lacked the sportsman’s body.

 

So he took up his next biggest interest, which was acting. Hughes trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts and the National Youth Theatre.

 

Jason Hughes is famous for his roles in Midsomer Murders, This Life, Killing me Softly, Three Girls, Marcella, The Pact, etc.

 

 

48.  Julian Lewis Jones

 

 

 

Julian Lewis Jones is a Welsh actor known for his notable contributions to the film and television industry. Born in Wales, he has garnered recognition for his versatile performances and charismatic screen presence.

 

Jones gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Karl in the critically acclaimed film “Invictus,” directed by Clint Eastwood. His compelling performance opposite Morgan Freeman and Matt Damon earned him international acclaim.

 

In addition to “Invictus,” Jones has appeared in various television series and films, including “Stella,” “Justice League,” and “The Bank Job.” With his talent and dedication to his craft, Julian Lewis Jones has established himself as a respected actor, representing Wales on the global stage.

 

 

49.  Andrew Howard

 

 

 

Andrew Howard is an English actor known for his compelling performances in various film and television projects. With his versatile skills, he has captivated audiences with his intense portrayals and distinctive presence.

 

Howard has appeared in notable films such as “Revolver,” “Blood River,” and “The Devil’s Chair.” He has also made memorable appearances in popular television series like “Band of Brothers,” “Hatfields & McCoys,” and “Banshee.”

 

With a commanding on-screen presence and the ability to delve into complex characters, Howard has earned recognition for his talent and dedication to his craft. His performances have showcased his versatility, making him a respected figure in the acting industry.