Culture

Famous pop star to appear in ’80s-set Welsh drama

06 Aug 2026 2 minute read

Self Esteem at Cardiff Castle / photo credit: DEPOT LIVE

Nation.Cymru staff

A famous pop star is set to star in the latest movie project from Welsh director Celyn Jones.

A star-studded cast has been confirmed for Mountain, an ’80s-set Welsh drama that has begun filming in North Wales.

The director, who previously helmed The Almond and the Seahorse and Set Fire to the Stars, is behind the upcoming movie.

Following on from those projects — which starred Rebel Wilson and Elijah Wood — Jones’s newest film stars Game of Thrones and Misfits actor Iwan Rheon, actor Rebecca Lucy Taylor (also known as pop star Self Esteem), and I Swear, The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, and War Horse actor Peter Mullan.

Newcomer Seth Isaac Thomas plays Mountain’s central character: a “neglected” young boy known only as GG who’s looking for somewhere to belong (via Variety). Mullan plays the other main character, Bill, a man who lives in isolation on the titular mountain.

The official logline for Mountain reads: “Their lives collide by chance forming a brief but enduring connection. Proving that, even though the world can appear cruel, life is inherently good and will find a way to survive.”

Speaking about the film, Mullan said: “When I read the script, I emailed Celyn and said ‘You made me cry, I’m in!'”

“It will be great for us to work together again and in such a beautiful part of the world too,” he added, referring to the film The Vanishing, which Jones wrote the script for.

Madfabulous (Mad as Birds) starring Callum Scott Howells

Celyn Jones added: “I’m honoured to bring a world-class team, on both sides of the camera, to my home town of Holyhead on Anglesey.

“Despite being a fiction, this feels a deeply personal film for me, with emotional themes and humour that many can relate to. I’m really looking forward to bringing it to life and sharing the cinematic beauty of home with the world.”

Jones’ most recent film, Madfabulous, starred It’s a Sin actor Callum Scott Howells. The film tells the story of the 5th Marquess of Anglesey, who spent his fortune on living an extravagant social life.

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