Ruth Jones

Ruth Jones is a Welsh writer, actress, comedian and producer. Born in Bridgend and raised in Porthcawl, she studied theater studies and dramatic arts at the University of Warwick before training in Cardiff at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Her first professional stage role came in 1989 with Dominic Cooke's Pan Optic company, and she later performed with the RSC and the National Theatre. For ITV she played Kelly in four series of the comedy Fat Friends, and she appeared in Little Britain, Nighty Night, Saxondale, Little Dorrit and The Street. She co-wrote Gavin & Stacey with James Corden and played Nessa Jenkins, winning the 2025 BAFTA for best female comedy performance. For Sky she created, executive produced and led the comedy drama Stella, which brought her BAFTA and BAFTA Cymru nominations. She appeared in East Is East (1999) and was appointed MBE in 2014 for services to entertainment.