Matthew Rhys takes Best Actor at Bafta Cymru for performance in Netflix thriller

Matthew Rhys has continued his fine form this awards season after being announced as the Best Actor at the Bafta Cymru Awards ceremony.

The actor made history last month when he became the first person to win two lead acting prizes in one night at the Emmy's.

Presenter Carol Vorderman said she was "humbled and excited" to receive an award for outstanding contribution, while Lauren Evans took home an award for her contribution to the film I Swear.

Lee Walters, Bafta Cymru chair, congratulated the nominees last month and said "each is a testament to the creativity, skill and dedication of the people working across Wales' screen industries, both in front of and behind the camera".

Rhys was presented the award at the ICC Wales, in Newport, where the event has been held since 2024.

His performance in The Beast in Me earned him his second Bafta Cymru, 29 years after his first for his role in the Welsh-language film Bydd yn Wro, or Be Brave.

Gabrielle Creevy won her second Best Actress award and Y Crwydryn took home 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.

Elsewhere, Y Golau: Dwr won two awards and Matthew Barry won Best Writer for The Guest.

Amour a Mynydd won the Entertainment Programme award and Stori'r Iaith received the Factual Series award.

Burton won the Feature/Television Film award and the Short Film award was won by Gofod Ymennydd – Brain Space and the Children's Programme went to Itopia.

In total, 17 awards were presented across the evening as well as two Bafta Outstanding Contribution awards.

Evans, from Hendy, Carmarthenshire, was awarded the inaugural Outstanding Contribution to Craft award after working on a range of productions including Game of Thrones, King Lear and The Danish Girl.

In recent years, she has worked on Sex Education, Lost Boys and I Swear which was nominated for six Bafta awards earlier this year.

Evans ended up winning the award for Best Casting saying she was "incredibly proud" to represent Welsh voices at the 2026 ceremony.

She said she was honoured to be recognised at the Bafta Cymru awards and that she wants to "keep elevating our Welsh creatives and our Welsh talent".

She added: "It's not as much of a closed industry as it was, but there is still so much more work to be done."

Walters said the two women have taken "very different paths", but have both "achieved so much and thoroughly deserve to be celebrated".