Matthew Rhys won Best Actor at the 2026 BAFTA Cymru Awards for his performance in the psychological thriller The Beast in Me. The Cardiff actor was unable to attend the ceremony in Wales to collect his award.
Carol Vorderman honoured
TV presenter Carol Vorderman was present to receive the BAFTA Cymru Siân Phillips Award for Outstanding Contribution to Television, one of BAFTA Cymru's highest honours. She told WalesOnline on the red carpet that it was Esther Rantzen who made her believe she could make it on television.
Casting director Lauren Evans was awarded the inaugural BAFTA Cymru Outstanding Contribution to Craft Award, presented by actor Sion Daniel Young.
Full list of winners
The winners were announced during a ceremony at the ICC Wales in Newport on Sunday night, hosted by Welsh TV presenter Owain Wyn Evans. In total, 17 competitive awards were presented across the evening as well as the two BAFTA Outstanding Contribution Awards.
The full list of winners for the 35th BAFTA Cymru Awards:
- Actor: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
- Actress: Gabrielle Creevy for The Guest
- Children's Programme: Itopia
- Director (Factual): Rhys Edwards for Y Crwydryn
- Director (Fiction): Karen Pirie
- Editing: Mali Evans for Y Golau: Dwr
- Entertainment Programme: Amour a Mynydd
- Factual series: Stori'r Iaith
- Feature/TV Film: Mr Burton
- News and Current Affairs: Foden: O Brifathro i Bedoffeil
- Outstanding contribution to craft: Lauren Evans
- Photography and lighting (fiction): Under Salt Marsh
- Presenter: Mari Grug
- Short Film: Gofod Ymennydd – Brain Space
- Sian Phillips Award for Outstanding Contribution: Carol Vorderman
- Single documentary: Y Crwydryn
- Sound: Havoc
- TV drama: Y Golau: Dwr
- Writer: Matthew Barry for The Guest
Rhys saw off competition from Callum Scott Howells in Madfabulous, Jonathan Pryce in Under Salt Marsh and Tom Cullen for Trespasses. The BAFTA Cymru Awards are the biggest annual celebration of creative excellence across film and television in Wales.
