Acclaimed Welsh actor Jonathan Pryce has made a poignant return to his homeland to film a major new television drama, nearly sixty years after he first left. The star of The Crown and Slow Horses headlines the atmospheric Sky crime thriller Under Salt Marsh, which premieres on Friday, 30th January.
A Compelling Welsh Mystery
The series, created by Claire Oakley, is set in the fictional coastal town of Morfa Halen. It follows former detective Jackie Ellis, played by Kelly Reilly (Yellowstone), who is forced to reunite with her ex-partner, Detective Eric Bull (Rafe Spall from Trying), when the body of an eight-year-old pupil is found on the shore. The investigation is complicated by Jackie's personal trauma, as she remains haunted by the unsolved disappearance of her niece three years earlier—a case Bull believes may be connected.
Pryce's Emotional Homecoming
For Pryce, the production marked a significant homecoming. He left Wales in his late teens, initially training as a teacher in Lancashire before moving to London for drama school. In an interview with Radio Times, he reflected on his complex relationship with his birthplace. "When I was growing up, I didn't see it as this beautiful country with epic landscapes," he confessed. "But rather as a place where I either played in the woods or went to the pubs and then almost couldn't wait to get away from."
His perspective has since changed. "But it is a beautiful country," he stated, noting the ironic history of the scenery. "Although the irony is that a lot of the beauty, especially in south Wales, is man-made. Those beautiful green rolling hills are grassed-over slag heaps, waste from coal mining and steel works."
Despite his long absence, Pryce emphasised an enduring connection: "Emotionally, I've never left... I've left a bit of me, but I don't think I've left Wales, if that makes sense." He also mentioned looking "enviously at casts that were filming in Wales" over the years.
Portraying a Pillar of the Community
In Under Salt Marsh, Pryce takes on the role of Solomon, described as a "keeper of secrets" and a foundational figure in Morfa Halen's tight-knit community. His character's family has worked the coastal farmland for generations. While specific plot details surrounding Solomon are being kept under wraps, Pryce revealed it was a part he "relished" bringing to life.
Following this project, Pryce is scheduled to reprise his role as David Cartwright in the sixth series of the hit Apple TV+ espionage drama Slow Horses, expected in late 2026.
Under Salt Marsh arrives on Sky and streaming service NOW on 30th January.
