Leisa Gwenllian is a bilingual Welsh actress.
Leisa Gwenllian | |
|---|---|
| Occupation | Actress |
| Known for | film and TV acting |
| Notable work | Effi o Blaenau |
Early life and education
editGwenllian was born and brought up in North Wales. Her mother is Beca Brown, a Plaid Cymru member of the Senedd. She credits eisteddfods with giving her opportunities to gain confidence at performing in public through competitions in recitation, monologues and choral singing.[1] She studied at Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias in North Wales and later trained at the Oxford School of Drama, graduating in 2024.[2] Her audition piece for the drama school was a monologue from Iphigenia in Splott.[3]
Career
editGwenllian had an early role in Rocket's Island, appearing as Bethany Summer from 2014 to 2015. She went on to appear in Welsh soap opera Rownd a Rownd, S4C drama Itopia, the film On the Sea (2025), and the second series of Wales-set mystery-drama series The Light in the Hall: Still Waters/Y Golau:Dŵr (2025), and as Kath Bevan in Sky Atlantic crime drama Under Salt Marsh alongside Kelly Reilly and Rafe Spall (2026).[2] She has been a voice actor in several animation productions from Sain and other companies.[4]
Gwenllian made her first film appearance with the part of Lois in the film On the Sea (2025), followed by the maid Clara in Madfabulous (2026). However, her first leading role was in Effi o Blaenau (2026). She received praise for her performance as Effi in this Welsh-language film adaptation directed by Marc Evans from Gary Owen's one-woman play Iphigenia in Splott.[5][3][6] Her portrayal of Effi was described as "remarkable", portraying a young woman shaped by poverty and neglect in the dramatic post-industrial landscape of Blaenau Ffestiniog and North Wales.[7]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2025 | On the Sea | Lois | [1] | |
| 2025 | Madfabulous | Clara | [1] | |
| Year 2026 | Effi o Blaenau | Effi | Lead role | [5] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
| 2014 - 15 | Rocket's Island | Bethany Summer | Recurring role, 19 episodes | [2] |
| 2021 | Rownd a Rownd | Kylie Walsh | Series regular | [2] |
| 2022 - 2024 | Itopia | Lwsi Hunter | Series lead | [2] |
| 2025 | The Light in the Hall:Still Waters/Y Golau:Dŵr | Young Eve | [2] | |
| 2025 | Under Salt Marsh | Kath Bevan | [2] | |
References
edit- 1 2 3 Owen, Lucy. "Is Leisa Gwenllian Wales' next big screen star?". BBC. Retrieved 20 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Who is Under Salt Marsh's Leisa Gwenllian? Meet Welsh actress behind Kath Bevan". Under Salt Marsh. 13 Feb 2026. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- 1 2 Kermode, Jennie (8 March 2026). "Indomitable spirit - Marc Evans and Leisa Gwenllian on landscape, Welsh pride and Effi O Blaenau". Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ "Leisa Gwenllian". Spotlight. Retrieved 28 June 2026.
- 1 2 Bradshaw, Peter (9 March 2026). "Effi o Blaenau review – Greek myth retelling Iphigenia in Splott becomes blistering Welsh-language film". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Hunter, Allan (4 March 2026). "'Effi o Blaenau' review: Leisa Gwenllian shines in Marc Evans' somber Welsh-language drama". screendaily.com. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
- ↑ Voelcker, Becca. "Effi o Blaenau: a fierce portrait of resilience in north Wales". BFI - Sight & Sound. Retrieved 20 June 2026.