INTERVIEW
Surrey’s Premier Lifestyle Magazine
Gwyneth Keyworth
Bilingual Welsh actress Gwyneth Keyworth talks to Andrew Peters about her successful and burgeoning acting career and how it all started.
Photo copyright: Montana Lowery
Styling: Holly Elgeti
Make Up: Lucy Gibson
Hair: Charley McEwen
Styling: Holly Elgeti
Make Up: Lucy Gibson
Hair: Charley McEwen
Q Gwyneth, you were born in Aberystwyth, West Wales – do you have fond recollections of the town and return there very often?
A I try to go back as often as I can, I love living in London, but Aber will always be home... and the drinks are a lot cheaper.
Q Was becoming an actor something you always wanted to do?
A I didn’t really think about it when I was younger. I seriously considered becoming a vampire age six – but there’s still time for that.
Q Who was the first person to tell you that you had talent? Did you believe it yourself at the time?
A Buddug Jones Davies was an incredible woman who ran a tiny Welsh language youth theatre group in my village hall. We didn’t have much, and the hall itself is about to be demolished, but I had the best time. Buddug nurtured everyone – at school I was having a tough time, but she encouraged me to not define myself by school reports and try for things outside of Aberystwyth. Buddug died when I was 15, but thanks to her I learnt to believe in myself a bit more.
Q The National Youth Theatre is where it all began for you at 15, can you tell us more about those early days?
A Buddug was the first person to tell me about the National Youth Theatre and encouraged me to try for it. I wasn’t sure, but after she died I felt I owed it to her to at least give it a go. I remember the day I came home from school and saw a fat envelope on the doormat marked NYT. I knew I’d been accepted. I was so happy I put our T-Rex album on and danced on the kitchen table with my little sister. NYT was brilliant – meeting young people from all over the country and from all sorts of backgrounds enriched my world exponentially.
A I try to go back as often as I can, I love living in London, but Aber will always be home... and the drinks are a lot cheaper.
Q Was becoming an actor something you always wanted to do?
A I didn’t really think about it when I was younger. I seriously considered becoming a vampire age six – but there’s still time for that.
Q Who was the first person to tell you that you had talent? Did you believe it yourself at the time?
A Buddug Jones Davies was an incredible woman who ran a tiny Welsh language youth theatre group in my village hall. We didn’t have much, and the hall itself is about to be demolished, but I had the best time. Buddug nurtured everyone – at school I was having a tough time, but she encouraged me to not define myself by school reports and try for things outside of Aberystwyth. Buddug died when I was 15, but thanks to her I learnt to believe in myself a bit more.
Q The National Youth Theatre is where it all began for you at 15, can you tell us more about those early days?
A Buddug was the first person to tell me about the National Youth Theatre and encouraged me to try for it. I wasn’t sure, but after she died I felt I owed it to her to at least give it a go. I remember the day I came home from school and saw a fat envelope on the doormat marked NYT. I knew I’d been accepted. I was so happy I put our T-Rex album on and danced on the kitchen table with my little sister. NYT was brilliant – meeting young people from all over the country and from all sorts of backgrounds enriched my world exponentially.
Quick five
CFavourite film? Bringing Up Baby.Dog or cat? Dog.
Guilty pleasure? Getting far too involved in Love Island than is at all necessary or acceptable.
Main inspiration? Spag bol.
Glass half full or half empty? Half full.
Q Was there anyone in particular who inspired you to start your acting career?
A There’s no one person in particular, but I remember having a conversation with my friend Gabriel about what we would do after leaving school. He suggested I could be an actor – I think I responded with something vague and a bit annoying about it not being a real career option for someone like me and his response was just: “Why not? Someone’s got to do it.” It definitely didn’t miraculously fall into place, but I think that conversation encouraged me to be more fearless with my aspirations.
Q You’ve a very impressive and varied acting resumé which includes high profile shows such as Craith/Hidden, Misfits, Black Mirror, Game of Thrones, The Great Outdoors, Doctor Thorne, the list goes on! Is the huge scope of work you’ve undertaken a reflection on your own character?
A Naturally you draw on aspects of your own life when you’re creating a character, and some characters are probably closer to me than others, but I try not to dwell on it. I think for your own mental wellbeing it’s important to not blur the line between yourself and the character too much and to remember it’s just a job – watching you ‘navel gaze’ all day isn’t that interesting.
A There’s no one person in particular, but I remember having a conversation with my friend Gabriel about what we would do after leaving school. He suggested I could be an actor – I think I responded with something vague and a bit annoying about it not being a real career option for someone like me and his response was just: “Why not? Someone’s got to do it.” It definitely didn’t miraculously fall into place, but I think that conversation encouraged me to be more fearless with my aspirations.
Q You’ve a very impressive and varied acting resumé which includes high profile shows such as Craith/Hidden, Misfits, Black Mirror, Game of Thrones, The Great Outdoors, Doctor Thorne, the list goes on! Is the huge scope of work you’ve undertaken a reflection on your own character?
A Naturally you draw on aspects of your own life when you’re creating a character, and some characters are probably closer to me than others, but I try not to dwell on it. I think for your own mental wellbeing it’s important to not blur the line between yourself and the character too much and to remember it’s just a job – watching you ‘navel gaze’ all day isn’t that interesting.
Photo copyright: Montana Lowery
Styling: Holly Elgeti
Make Up: Lucy Gibson
Hair: Charley McEwen
Styling: Holly Elgeti
Make Up: Lucy Gibson
Hair: Charley McEwen
Gwyneth Keyworth
Christie Gwyneth grew up in Aberystwyth, Wales where she was involved in youth theatre and a Welsh language acting group. Inspired by the likes of Julie Walters, Shirley Henderson and Jane Horrocks, she joined the National Youth Theatre aged 15. Two years later she was performing a comedy sketch about the NHS at the Soho Theatre. In 2010 Gwyneth was billed as a Screen International Star of Tomorrow after which she trained at RADA, graduating in 2014. Her screen roles to date include Misfits (E4), Game of Thrones (HBO/Sky), Doctor Thorne (ITV), Wasted (E4) and Black Mirror (Channel 4). In 2018 she starred as Megan Ruddock in Welsh crime drama Craith/Hidden (S4C/BBC) – a role for which she was nominated for Best Actress at the Welsh BAFTAs.On stage, Gwyneth has performed in As You Like It (The Globe), The Life and Times of Fanny Hill (Bristol Old Vic) and Raising Martha (Park Theatre).
Gwyneth will star alongside Katherine Parkinson, Will Sharpe and Prasanna Puwanarajah in BBC Two’s Defending the Guilty – a new comedy about pupil barristers in London. She will also be seen in a guest role in the forthcoming series of Netflix’s multi-award-winning Royal drama The Crown and in dark comic thriller The Toll.
Gwyneth appeared opposite Peter Dinklage in Game of Thrones
Photo copyright: BSkyB
Photo copyright: BSkyB
Q Who would you walk across hot coals to work with?
A Yorgos Lanthimos who recently directed the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated movie The Favourite with Olivia Colman.
Q Do you find more lighthearted and easy-going roles easier to play than serious ones?
A Different roles have different challenges, I can’t say one is easier than the other, but I have definitely found the emotional intensity of parts like Megan in Hidden/Craith and the subject matter she was involved in required a lot more stamina to maintain truthfully.
Q Of all your parts the one that gets a lot of attention is Clea in GOT, but what would be your career highlight to date?
A I loved filming Black Mirror, I’ve always been a huge fan of the director, Tim Van Patten. He directed nearly all of my favourite episodes of The Sopranos, so working with him was incredible.
Q Just one more mention of GOT. Was Peter Dinklage fun to work with?
A So much fun! He’s a brilliant actor and really generous. It was my birthday while we were filming and he actually orchestrated all the cast and crew to sing happy birthday which was a very kind surprise.
Q Last year you starred in the Welsh-noir series Craith playing the complex character of Megan Ruddock – was this your most challenging role to date?
A Without a doubt, it was tough going at times considering the subject matter, but it was also just a privilege to be able to sink my teeth into a character with such integrity and strength despite the adversity she faced.
Q Stage work reflects your RADA training and you’ve appeared at The Globe Theatre – would you like to do more theatrical work?
A Definitely – I’m just waiting for the right project to come along.
Q Do you pay much attention to social media or any production’s ratings?
A Not really. In general, you hope something you’ve worked hard on with others is well received, but it’s not my priority.
Q Any highs and lows along the way you’d care to mention?
A Faceplanting on stage – bad. That this is how I earn my keep – good.
Q What’s the question you never get asked but would like to be?
A “What’s your favourite Celine Dion track Gwyneth?” Think Twice is an absolute banger, thanks for asking.
Q What are you currently working on and what’s next in the pipeline?
A I’ve got a fair few projects to come out over the next year which I’m excited about. I’ve just wrapped from filming a new ITV series with Dawn French called Glass Houses which will be on next year.
Q Whatever you’re doing presumably you’ll be keeping a close eye on the Rugby World Cup starting this month and hoping for a late birthday present!
A All. Over. It.
A Yorgos Lanthimos who recently directed the BAFTA-winning and Oscar-nominated movie The Favourite with Olivia Colman.
Q Do you find more lighthearted and easy-going roles easier to play than serious ones?
A Different roles have different challenges, I can’t say one is easier than the other, but I have definitely found the emotional intensity of parts like Megan in Hidden/Craith and the subject matter she was involved in required a lot more stamina to maintain truthfully.
Q Of all your parts the one that gets a lot of attention is Clea in GOT, but what would be your career highlight to date?
A I loved filming Black Mirror, I’ve always been a huge fan of the director, Tim Van Patten. He directed nearly all of my favourite episodes of The Sopranos, so working with him was incredible.
Q Just one more mention of GOT. Was Peter Dinklage fun to work with?
A So much fun! He’s a brilliant actor and really generous. It was my birthday while we were filming and he actually orchestrated all the cast and crew to sing happy birthday which was a very kind surprise.
Q Last year you starred in the Welsh-noir series Craith playing the complex character of Megan Ruddock – was this your most challenging role to date?
A Without a doubt, it was tough going at times considering the subject matter, but it was also just a privilege to be able to sink my teeth into a character with such integrity and strength despite the adversity she faced.
Q Stage work reflects your RADA training and you’ve appeared at The Globe Theatre – would you like to do more theatrical work?
A Definitely – I’m just waiting for the right project to come along.
Q Do you pay much attention to social media or any production’s ratings?
A Not really. In general, you hope something you’ve worked hard on with others is well received, but it’s not my priority.
Q Any highs and lows along the way you’d care to mention?
A Faceplanting on stage – bad. That this is how I earn my keep – good.
Q What’s the question you never get asked but would like to be?
A “What’s your favourite Celine Dion track Gwyneth?” Think Twice is an absolute banger, thanks for asking.
Q What are you currently working on and what’s next in the pipeline?
A I’ve got a fair few projects to come out over the next year which I’m excited about. I’ve just wrapped from filming a new ITV series with Dawn French called Glass Houses which will be on next year.
Q Whatever you’re doing presumably you’ll be keeping a close eye on the Rugby World Cup starting this month and hoping for a late birthday present!
A All. Over. It.
essence info
Gwyneth stars in the BBC Two comedy Defending the Guilty this month.
She will also be seen in The Crown in November on Netflix.
Gwyneth stars in the BBC Two comedy Defending the Guilty this month.
She will also be seen in The Crown in November on Netflix.