British Actors You Should Know: Aneurin Barnard
Seeing as today is St. David’s Day, the celebration of the patron saint of Wales, it seemed appropriate to feature a Welshman in the latest installment of our Actors You Should Know series. Therefore, I’m taking this opportunity to introduce you to one of my favorite young actors from the UK, Aneurin (pronounced An-eye-rin) Barnard.
Born in the Valleys of South Wales, Aneurin grew up watching films with his grandad and his father who was a coal miner. He got his early dramatic training at the Bridgend Youth Theatre near Cardiff.
He went on to study at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Shortly after graduating, he originated the part of Melchior Gabor in the London production of the hit musical, Spring Awakening. Barnard subsequently won a Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2010.
Aneurin’s musical background served him well in the 2011 film, Hunky Dory. He plays Davey, a talented singer who has been recruited to star in the high school musical conceived by his spirited drama teacher Vivienne Mae (Minnie Driver). Her glam rock-infused version of Shakespeare's The Tempest is derailed at times by apathy, hormones and arson. But despite the roadblocks (and it being the hottest summer in Britain's history), Davey and the rest of the cast put on a triumphant performance in the end . The film features plenty of nostaglic 70's tunes including this classic Bowie song.
