Matthew Rhys Wins Best Actor at 2026 Bafta Cymru Awards

Matthew Rhys won Best Actor at the 2026 Bafta Cymru Awards for his performance in The Beast in Me. The ceremony was held at ICC Wales in Newport, the venue since 2024.

A night of Welsh talent recognised across categories

Gabrielle Creevy earned her second Best Actress award at the ceremony. The documentary Y Crwydryn won the Single Documentary award, with Rhys Edwards winning Director Factual for the same show. Mari Grug won her first Bafta Cymru award for presenter in Mari Grug: Yn dydd Ar Y Tro.

Y Golau: Dwr secured two awards. Matthew Barry won Best Writer for The Guest. Amour a Mynydd won the Entertainment Programme award. Stori'r Iaith received the Factual Series award. Burton won the Feature/Television Film award. Gofod Ymennydd, Brain Space won the Short Film award. Itopia won the Children's Programme award. In total, 17 awards and two Outstanding Contribution awards were presented.

Lauren Evans honoured for craft and advocacy

Lauren Evans won an award for her contribution to the film I Swear and later received the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Craft award. Evans, from Hendy, Carmarthenshire, was honored for work on productions including Game of Thrones, King Lear, and The Danish Girl. She has also worked on Sex Education, Lost Boys and I Swear, the latter nominated for six Bafta awards earlier this year.

Evans won Best Casting and said she was "incredibly proud" to represent Welsh voices at the 2026 ceremony. She added that she wants to keep elevating Welsh creatives and talent. "It's not as much of a closed industry as it was, but there is still so much more work to be done," she said.

Industry leaders praise Wales’ creative strength

Lee Walters, chair of Bafta Cymru, congratulated the nominees last month. He praised the Welsh screen industry, stating that each nominee is a sign of the creativity, skill and dedication of the people working across Wales' screen industries. Walters said the two women, Lauren Evans and Gabrielle Creevy, have taken very different paths but have both achieved so much and thoroughly deserve to be celebrated.

Carol Vorderman presented an award and said she was humbled and excited to receive an award for outstanding contribution.

Rhys’ win marks a historic return to Bafta Cymru

Matthew Rhys’s Best Actor award is his second Bafta Cymru honour, coming 29 years after his first for the Welsh-language film Bydd yn Wro, or Be Brave. Last month Rhys became the first person to win two lead acting prizes in one night at the Emmys, a historic achievement. His win at the 2026 Bafta Cymru Awards adds to that momentum and reinforces his enduring connection to Welsh-language film.