Ruth Jones has been honoured with the coveted Hay Festival medal for drama, cementing her status as a multi-talented storyteller beyond her iconic television work, per bbc.com.
The Bridgend-born creator of the hit BBC series Gavin and Stacey received the prestigious award during her appearance at the renowned literary festival in Hay-on-Wye, Powys, where she discussed her latest novel, By Your Side.
The beloved Welsh actress and writer joins an elite group of winners this year, alongside celebrated children’s author Michael Morpurgo, who claimed the fiction medal, and British-Turkish novelist Elif Shafak, who won the prose category. Morpurgo, known for his masterpiece War Horse, has penned over 150 books and previously served as Children’s Laureate.
“We are honoured to celebrate three exceptional storytellers,” declared Hay Festival chief executive Julie Finch, praising the winners for pushing “the boundaries of contemporary writing and spread[ing] the joy of stories here and around the world.”
Jones’s award-winning novel explores themes of human connection and finding happiness in unexpected relationships. The recognition is another milestone in her diverse career, which spans from her breakout role as the unforgettable Nessa Jenkins to her emergence as a respected novelist.
•Featured image: Ruth Jones, pictured with Hay Festival chief executive Julie Finch, was one of three writers presented with a prize/Hay Festival
