A Welsh actress named in a prestigious line-up that has previously featured the likes of Benedict Cumberbatch and Florence Pugh says the selection was "so unexpected" that she forgot she applied. Leisa Gwenllian portrays Effi in the Welsh language film Effi o Blaenau, which follows a young woman as she grapples with unemployment in a north Wales town before a night out drinking dramatically alters her life. She joins a host of Hollywood stars who have previously been part of Stars of Tomorrow, an annual showcase highlighting rising British and Irish acting and filmmaking talent.
Gwenllian said she was proud to receive the honour and that Welsh language cinema was currently "having a moment". Previous actors named in Screen International's talent programme also include Jodie Comer and Paul Mescal. The film magazine received over 350 applications this year and decided on 10 actors and 10 filmmakers for its 2026 list.
Gwenllian, from Llanrug, Gwynedd, joked that "the pressure is on now" and said the recognition was a "great opportunity" which will open doors for her. "I've gained a little bit of following in Wales because of this, but what that also means is that I kind of feel like I don't want to let those people down now who are so supportive of me and expect great things," she said. "I just want to make my country proud and make my family proud." Effi o Blaenau (Effi from Blaenau) is an adaptation of Gary Owen's play, Iphigenia in Splott, but relocated from Cardiff to Gwynedd.
Directed by Marc Evans, whose previous work includes BBC's Mr Burton, the film follows Effi as she navigates being out of work, clubbing and hangovers. "I absolutely would not be there had it not been for Effi and I just feel very grateful that I got to play her and that it's reached so many people," Gwenllian said. "I'm so proud to receive that honour because it's not only a recognition of my work but it's a recognition of the film and it's a boost for Welsh language cinema." The industry here is having "a bit of a moment", Gwenllian said with a laugh.
"A director that I worked with, Helen Jones, she always says, 'It's not a moment, it's a movement', and we have to make sure that this continues. "What Effi has proven is that there's an appetite out there for Welsh language films." She said it was exciting that filmmakers were starting to take Wales seriously, and that the Welsh language should not be viewed as a barrier. "People are so happy to watch other films in other languages with subtitles, so why not do it with Welsh." Time Out said Effi o Blaenau was a cross between Greek tragedy and "British social realism", calling Gwenllian "formidable", while The Guardian described the film as a "sensation".
Gwenllian has most recently been filming a dark comedy set in Swansea. ITV and S4C series Santa Maria is about a "class divide" in the city, with both Welsh and English versions. "What's exciting about it is that even in the English language version, there's going to be a lot of Welsh," she said.
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