Skip to content

Ruth Jones receives special St David Award

St Davids Awards Eluned Morgan, who has short brown hair and is wearing glasses and a red dress, presents the award to Ruth Jones, who is also wearing a red dress St Davids Awards
Ruth Jones received the award from First Minister Eluned Morgan

Actor and TV writer Ruth Jones has received a special honour at the St David Awards.

Jones, from Bridgend, received the First Minister's Special Award on Thursday evening for her successes, and putting an international spotlight on Wales.

She is best known for playing the much-loved character Nessa in the popular sitcom Gavin and Stacey.

Other recipients on the night include Emma Finucane, Bad Wolf and Llanberis Mountain Rescue.

World champion cyclist Finucane, 22, from Carmarthen, took three medals at last summer's Paris Olympics, and won the sport award.

Cardiff-based production company Bad Wolf, whose programmes include His Dark Materials, was given the business award.

"It's very special and I feel very, very honoured. I am really proud," Jones said of her award.

According to Jones' younger sister Maria, she was a performer from an early age.

She went to Porthcawl Comprehensive, where she became friends with Gavin and Stacey co-star Rob Brydon who also attended, before studying drama at the University of Warwick.

Jones found work at BBC Wales in both TV and radio comedy. Ruth also featured in the comedy sketch Little Britain as Myfanwy.

She later branched out to theatre, before gaining a role in the ITV series Fat Friends.

It was there when she started working with James Corden, and the two would then go on to create BBC Three hit Gavin and Stacey in 2007.

St David Award/X Eluned Morgan, who is wearing a red dress and glasses, is presenting the St David award to Emma Finucane who is wearing a black dress. They are standing in front of a dark background with a blue figure of a bird. St David Award/X
Emma Finucane was given the Sport Award in Thursday's ceremony

The programme was watched by millions with the series finale became one of the most watched scripted TV shows of the century.

"I'm very proud to be British and very proud to be Welsh. I love when I'm writing, I love creating Welsh characters. I meet people all the time and just go 'you're amazing'," she said.

"As a nation the Welsh are incredibly passionate and we have a great sense of humour, and we can sing."

Following the huge success of Gavin and Stacey, Jones would go on to star in comedy drama Stella.

When she is not acting in comedies, Jones enjoys writing and has published four novels. She was also in Sister Act on the West End last September.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said she was thrilled to celebrate the "huge success that Ruth Jones has achieved".

"She has showcased the warmth and wit of the Welsh people. We are proud to have such a huge talent here," she added.

In its 12th year the national awards of Wales celebrate people from across the country in areas like volunteering, bravery, business, and the community.

Judges commended Llanberis Mountain Rescue team, from Gwynedd, for their bravery, saying it was crucial for mountain safety.

Other winners include Justin Biggs who risked his life by rescuing two people from inside a car, which was upside down in the water near Cardiff Bay Yacht club.

The full list of winners:

  • Volunteering Award: Llanberis Mountain Rescue
  • Sport Award: Emma Finucane
  • Public Services Award: Patrick Watts
  • Innovation, Science and Technology Award: ImmunoServ
  • Environment Champion Award: Peter Stanley
  • Culture Award: David Hurn
  • Community Champion Award: Paul Bromwell
  • Business Award: Bad Wolf
  • Bravery Award winner: Justin Biggs
  • Young Person Award: Dylan Buller