For Welsh roles, see England: The new Richard Burton movie is a tale as old as time
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Stephen Price
A biopic of legendary Welsh actor Richard Burton ‘wrapped’ last week – and in a recurring theme for films about Wales and the Welsh, the lead roles have all gone to folk from England.
In a surprise to no one, Welsh actors and actresses appear to have been sidelined yet again, with Aneurin Barnard and Aimee-Ffion Edwards turning up for two supporting roles in order to add a touch of authenticity, or perhaps to shut us up on social media.
The film is said to tell ‘the moving, untold story of Richard Burton’s formative years and the man who became his guiding hand and inspiration’.
Mr Burton will focus on wild schoolboy Rich Jenkins, the son of a boozy miner, and the English teacher who recognised his talent, Philip Burton – transforming Rich Jenkins into Richard Burton the biggest star Wales has ever produced.
I (don’t) predict a riot
We’re not ones to riot any more, to our credit, but we’re all certainly growing tired of watching our talent sidelined, our accents aped poorly and continued and offensive missed opportunity to grow another Catherine Zeta Jones or Luke Evans in some sort of industry-approved act of self fulfilling prophecy
‘Ah but we need big names, we need bums on seats, what about Welsh people playing other roles?!??!?!’ I’ll be told.
Give us a break (literally).
There is no even playing field whereby English language roles in Wales come up often, for one. As a minority people within the UK, if we’re not getting any of the big roles outside of our country, surely we should get a look in on our own turf now and then?
In this Welsh-faced movie, we see Richard dreaming of becoming an actor, but his ambitions are in danger of being derailed by a combination of family trouble, the pressure of war, and his own lack of discipline.
Mr Burton recognised the raw talent in his pupil, and made it his mission to fight for him, becoming his tutor, strict taskmaster and eventually his adoptive father.
Hammersmith-born Toby Jones, fresh from his acclaimed performance in the TV series Mr Bates vs. The Post Office, will star in the title role, with rising star, and Oxford native, Harry Lawtey playing the young Richard Jenkins.
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Oscar nominee, and Brighton native, Lesley Manville plays ‘Ma Smith’, Philip Burton’s landlady and close confidante, who acts as a watchful eye and guiding force over young Richard, while Aimee-Ffion Edwards and Aneurin Barnard have been thrown some crumbs and will play ‘Cis’ and ‘Elfed’, Richard’s elder sister and brother-in-law who looked after him after the death of his mother (no doubt on hand to offer some advice on how not to do a bad impression of a Welsh accent).
Shooting finished on the movie last week, with Aneurin Barnard posting about the shoot on his Instagram page, while Toby Jones was snapped DJing at the wrap party.
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Surprisingly, the film has been financed by BBC Wales and Ffilm Cymru Wales, in partnership with Creative Wales, with Marc Evans helming the movie as director – so why, must I ask again, are English folk playing the lead roles?
History repeating
But then, of course, we also know all too well the long history of Welsh people being overlooked for Welsh roles.
From recent travesties such as Save the Cinema, Bridgend and Gwen, or slightly older films such as Very Annie Mary andThe Englishman Who Went up a Hill but Came Down a Mountain right back to the early days of cinema and the abomination that is How Green Was My Valley, movies about Wales and the Welsh without the right approach to Welsh input always fail to gain genuine homegrown acclaim.
We all know, at least this side of the border anyway, that there isn’t one Welsh accent, so I imagine they actors have tried a generic possibly-somewhere-in-the-valleys-but-not-too-deep-mun accent. The lead will have ‘studied’ Burton’s accent on YouTube.
To give our roles out to others as if we aren’t a distinct people with a distinct cultural identity is a disrespect on the same level as any other miscasting of marginalised people.
Is it any wonder so many countries across the world use England and Britain interchangeably when, even on this relatively small level, we aren’t even given an opportunity to be represented?
Lost opportunity
To cast a lead actor from outside of Wales does a complete disservice to one of Wales’ most celebrated sons.
Taking on the responsibility of sharing Burton’s story with the world is just that – a responsibility, and in the search for assumed wider appeal, it’s got it wrong before it’s even out there.
The arts are embedded in Welsh culture, acting prowess is in our blood, and there has never been a shortage of Welsh talent.
When it comes to telling uniquely Welsh stories, our own people are naturally the best people for the job.
Time will tell if it’s got it right – the actors are certainly masters of their craft, but it’s yet another lost opportunity to let our own talent shine. And that is a shame.
Mr Burton is set for a 2025 release to coincide with the centenary of Richard Burton’s birth.
I’ll be washing my hair.
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It won’t be long before they claim Richard Burton was English. Anything that is good is English but if it’s bad it is British.
I don’t care how good an actor Toby Jones is, if he has a ham Welsh accent it will be unwatchable for us 🙄
Why would Philip Burton be played with ‘ham Welsh accent’?
We’re going to stop Welsh actors playing non-Welsh roles the same time, yes? Ioan Gruffudd as Hornblower and in The Fantastic Four, Matthew Rhys as an American/Russian in the Americans and as an American in both the Mr Rogers film and when portraying real-life political activist Daniel Ellsberg in The Post?
Does Sheen always play a Welshman in everything he does? Thought not.
It’s called acting.
I largely agree with the article’s point regarding Wales. On the other hand I worry that it’s simply another example of a growing ‘intersectionality’ trend of calls for parts to be played by people of the same ‘authentic’ sexuality, disability, class, nationality etc etc. The ultimate logical conclusion is that people should only really play themselves (or maybe a relative). And then there’ll be no more acting. Or opportunities for Welsh actors.
Not surprising somebody had to overlook the point.
The day there’s an equivalency of Welsh actors having as much abundance of film roles as everyone else – especially the English – is the day anyone can play anything.
But while Welsh people are sidelined in everything – whether unintentionally or by design – there will be a need for Welsh actors to be playing Welsh characters until then. It makes your false equivalency look both childish and wilfully dense.
Equality looks like oppression to the over privileged with a superiority complex.
As Richard Jenkins, his family and practically all the community of Pontrhydyfen were first language Cymraeg speakers it will be interesting to see how much of the film is in Cymraeg with English subtitles.
“I always speak Welsh to my family” said Richard Burton.
Spoiler alert – Not any more boyo.
No chance. SPEAK IN WELSH!!!!! How could you possibly think that?? Ych a fi. For those who don’t understand I am being sarcastic.
A Welsh production recruiting English people to play Welsh people. U couldn’t make this up. So much for authenticity and growing the arts in Wales.
The number of talented Welsh actors has never been higher than it is at present. Whilst actors across the world are flexible, and can mimic accents as part of their skill set, you’d think that a film of this nature would have internal casting. It will be interesting to hear the pronunciations of Pontrhydyfen, Cwmafan and Taibach (if included, that is). Any film with subject-matter of this nature should be bilingual, with available subtitles. There is undoubtedly a sense in the Arts world, centred on London, but with pockets elsewhere including an Anglo-Welsh sector in Cardiff, that English actors, and… Read more »
Are we yet again to witness more misplaced accents by non-Welsh actors.. To me this reminiscent of the 1941 film , How Green Was My Valley, directed by John Ford. It was filmed in Southern California, which is identical to the humid climate of South Wales, as we all know. And the whole cast, apart from one solitary actor called Dai Bando, an actual Welsh actor, yes Welsh, who hailed from Clydach in Swansea, were either American, English or Irish. I can remember how the accents were hammed up and there were stereotypes aplenty. Ironic thing was, Welsh actor aside,… Read more »
Remember Ivor the Engine.
The story was set in the Top left hand corner of Wales yet the voice-overs by Oliver Postgate were done in a stereotypical South Wales accent.
The only English actor who I have heard do a good Welsh accent is the man who played Gareth Jones in the film MR.Jones. a film about the Holodomor famine.
Michael Sheen is to play Prince Andrew. Last time of checking, Andy wasnt from Port Talbot. This is a disgrace!
He should act the part with a German accent.
Richard Jenkins was Welsh,however Richard Burton was primarily an English actor.
Let’s hear the logic for that one!
? Having an anglicised name doesn’t magically make you so. Is that what you are trying to imply?
I did not clain that he became English only that the the cultural foundation of his acting was based on English culture learnt ,primarily,from Philip Burton.
Not sure Welsh actors would thank you for advocating that characters should only be played by actors of the same nationality… it would severely restrict their opportunities and earning potential.
Oh look, another dwp who doesn’t get the point.
Aren’t actors suppose to act?
Because we suffer greatly from interlised racism, we have been bred to believe we are in some regards a “lesser” people. We also see the same thing occur to oriental Asians within Hollywood…..always type cast as babbling buffoons who can’t do anything for themselves. We will never get rid of this trait while we remain within the UK.
You should not confine roles to geographical upbringing. However irrespective of nationality of the actors if the accent is laughable then the whole production is reduced to farce. Remember Steven Graham’s portrayal as a Welsh detective on the Bamber murder drama ? Welsh accents are very difficult to nail from a pragmatic point of view why don’t casting directors get this ?So if a large studio wants an A lister fair enough but year on year out we see/hear strained larynx’s gurgling turgid babble whether it is Scottish/Irish/American.When settling down to watch drama the last thing you want is it… Read more »