Siân Phillips Award 2024: Mark Lewis Jones

It’s hardly surprising that a special award honouree has an incredible roster of screen credits, and this is no less true of this year’s Siân Phillips Award recipient, Mark Lewis Jones. A quick glance through the Denbighshire-born actor’s 140-strong roll call of acclaimed films, games and TV series illustrates just how outstanding and impactful his career has been.

It stretches far beyond such homegrown hits as Stella (2012-2017), Keeping Faith/Un Bore Mercher (2017-2021) and Y Sŵn (2023), with the likes of Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World (2003), Robin Hood (2010) and Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi (2017). Add such TV juggernauts as 55 Degrees North (2005), The Crown, Chernobyl (both 2019), Outlander (2022-2023) and, one of this year’s hottest watercooler series, Baby Reindeer (2024), and critically acclaimed games Dragon Age II (2011) and The Witcher 2 and 3 (2011, 2015).

From the bold and the challenging to the popular and mainstream, Jones’ exceptional talent always shines through. He’s been recognised by BAFTA Cymru previously: winning for The Passing/Yr Ymadawiad (2015) and earning nods for The Bench (2001-2002), Baker Boys (2011), Stella, The Lighthouse (2016), Keeping Faith/Un Bore Mercher and Gangs of London (2020).

Not bad for someone who expressed no desire to act as a youth at Ysgol Morgan Llwyd, whose drama teacher eventually convinced the 16-year-old Jones to take part in a school play. The bug caught, he joined the Clywd Youth Theatre in Mold before training formally at Cardiff’s Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Stints with the Royal Shakespeare Company and at The Globe followed before the screen beckoned.

Jones says: “I feel very honoured to receive this award in the name of someone who has shown such courage and tenacity throughout her extraordinary career. I hope dearly that I will be able to use this platform to help and inspire others to realise their dreams.”