Famous People Born In Swansea

Catherine Zeta-Jones is one of the most popular and successful actresses from Wales. Starting out as a child actress, Catherine went on to cement her place in the American film industry with roles that accentuated her sex appeal. She is the recipient of several awards. Also a well-known humanitarian, she was appointed CBE for her humanitarian and film endeavors.

Dylan Thomas was a Welsh writer and poet who published popular poems, such as Do not go gentle into that good night, which was popularized in the 2014 movie, Interstellar, where Michael Caine's character recites the poem throughout the film. Dylan Thomas achieved tremendous popularity during his lifetime and remains popular after his untimely death at the age of 39.

Alun Wyn Jones is a Welsh rugby union player who is currently playing for the Ospreys. Jones is the current captain of the Wales national rugby team and has helped his team win  five Six Nations Championships. He has also won other important trophies, such as three Grand Slams, four Triple Crowns, three Doddie Weir Cups, and four Prince William Cups.

Ian Hislop is a satirist, journalist, broadcaster, writer, and editor of a magazine called Private Eye. A popular figure, Hislop has appeared in many television and radio shows over the years. Hislop is renowned for his work in the TV show Have I Got News for You where he has been a team captain since the show's inception in 1990.

Welsh musician Pete Ham soared to fame as the lead singer and composer of the rock band Badfinger. Known for iconic hits such as No Matter What, he also co-wrote the classic Without You. After the band’s manager defrauded and vanished, Ham committed suicide by hanging himself in his garage.

Son of academic John Powell Ward, Tom Ward is known for his decade-long role of Dr. Harry Cunningham in the series Silent Witness. He has previously won Celebrity Mastermind and has played the titular role in The Infinite Worlds of H. G. Wells. He is also a skilled stage fighter.

Michael Heseltine is a British businessman and politician. He is credited with co-founding a privately held media company called Haymarket Media Group. In 1979, he entered the Cabinet of the UK and played a key role in advocating the 'Right to Buy' campaign, which enabled about two million families to buy their council houses.

Welsh actor/comedian Harry Secombe soared to fame with The Goon Show. Part of the British army during World War II, he would often perform comedy acts for the troops. Known for his slapstick comedy, he was also a talented singer. He later hosted religious shows such as ITV’s Highway.

Shaheen Jafargholi is a Welsh singer and actor who achieved popularity in 2009 when he took part in the televised talent show competition Britain's Got Talent where he finished seventh. Since his participation in Britain's Got Talent, Shaheen Jafargholi has released a studio album and has appeared in a couple of TV series.

While BAFTA-winning veteran actor Margaret John initially wished to be a vet or a nurse, her aversion to blood made her choose acting. Known for her role in Pobol y Cwm, she was one of the 31 actors to be part of both the Doctor Who series of the 1960s and the 2000s.

Known for his contributions to analysis of the nonlinear time series, Sir Clive William John Granger was a British econometrician, who worked with Robert Engle to develop new statistical methods. Basing their work on cointegration, they were able to differentiate between and combine the analysis of short-term fluctuations and long-term trends, earning Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences for it.

Welsh harpist Hannah Stone had started performing at age 8 and has since played for the British Royal Family quite a few times. She was also named the Official Harpist to the Prince of Wales back in 2011. She is now married to bass-baritone opera singer Sir Bryn Terfel.

Welsh Labour leader Carwyn Jones has held many significant political posts, including that of the First Minister of Wales. A qualified lawyer, he practiced for a decade and then also taught a law course at Cardiff University. He met his wife, a fellow student, while studying at the Aberystwyth University.

Rowan Douglas Williams became the first archbishop of Canterbury who was not from the Church of England. The Welsh Anglican bishop has been quite liberal in his views on homosexuality. He has also taught theology courses at the universities of Oxford and Cambridge, and is a life peer.

Singer and rock-n-roll pianist Geraint Watkins initially played with bands such as Red Beans and Rice. He later collaborated with artists such as Nick Lowe and Dave Edmunds, too. He has also had a 15-year stint as a pianist and accordionist with the lesser-known band The Balham Alligators in London pubs.