Welsh actor Matthew Rhys has added another accolade to his career after being named Best Actor at the 2026 Bafta Cymru Awards. The ceremony, held at the ICC Wales in Newport—a venue hosting the event since 2024—saw Rhys receive the honor for his performance in The Beast in Me. This win marks his second Bafta Cymru award, arriving 29 years after he first received the prize for his work in the Welsh-language film Bydd yn Wro, or Be Brave. His latest victory follows his historic success last month as the first individual to win two lead acting Emmys in a single night. She has worked on Sex Education, Lost Boys and I Swear which was nominated for six Bafta awards earlier this year, in recent years.
Ceremony Highlights and Major Winners
- Best Actress: Gabrielle Creevy won her second award in the category.
- Documentary: Y Crwydryn won for Single Documentary, while Rhys Edwards took the prize for Director Factual.
- Presenter: Mari Grug received her first award for Mari Grug: Yn dydd Ar Y Tro.
- Writing: Matthew Barry was honored as Best Writer for The Guest.
- Entertainment: Amour a Mynydd claimed the Entertainment Programme award.
- Factual Series: Stori’r Iaith received the Factual Series honor.
- Film and Television: Burton won for Feature/Television Film, Gofod Ymennydd – Brain Space won for Short Film, and Itopia was named Children’s Programme.
The event presented 17 competitive awards alongside two accolades for Outstanding Contribution. Carol Vorderman was among the honorees, expressing that she was “humbled and excited” to receive the Outstanding Contribution award. Meanwhile, Lauren Evans earned the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Craft award for a career spanning major productions like Game of Thrones, King Lear, and The Danish Girl. Evans, originally from Hendy, Carmarthenshire, also secured the Best Casting award for her work on I Swear. She noted her pride in representing Welsh voices, stating she aims to “keep elevating our Welsh creatives” and adding that while the industry is less closed than before, significant work remains. Evans ended up winning the award for Best Casting saying she was “incredibly proud” to represent Welsh voices at the 2026 ceremony. But there is still so much more work to be done, she added: “It’s not as much of a closed industry as it was.
Bafta Cymru chair Lee Walters congratulated all nominees, emphasizing that each achievement reflects the dedication and skill of those working in the Welsh screen industry, both on-screen and behind the scenes. Regarding the two major contributors honored during the evening, Walters observed that while the women had taken “very different paths,” both had accomplished substantial work worthy of celebration.
