Ruth Jones facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ruth Jones MBE
Jones in 2008
Born	Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones 1966 (age 58–59) Bridgendl, Glamorgan, Wales
Alma mater	Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Occupation	Actress comedian writer producer
Years active	1991–present
Spouse(s)	David Peet ​ (m. 1999)​
Children	3

Ruth Alexandra Elisabeth Jones (born in 1966) is a talented Welsh actress, comedian, writer, and producer. She is best known for creating and starring in the popular BBC show Gavin & Stacey. She also wrote and starred in the Sky One comedy-drama Stella. For Stella, she was nominated for a BAFTA Award. She also won a BAFTA Cymru Award for Best Screenwriter.

Ruth Jones has appeared in many TV series. These include Fat Friends (2000–2005), Little Britain (2003–2007), and Nighty Night (2004–2005). In 2014, she was honored with the title of Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE). This award was for her great work in entertainment.

Ruth Jones's Early Life

Ruth Jones was born in 1966 in Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales. Her father worked as a lawyer for a steel company. Her mother was a doctor. Ruth has two older brothers and a younger sister. She grew up in Porthcawl and went to Porthcawl Comprehensive School. Actor Rob Brydon also went to this school. They even performed in school musicals together.

Ruth loved being in musical theatre shows every year. After high school, she studied Theatre Studies at University of Warwick. Then, she trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama in Cardiff.

Ruth Jones's Career Highlights

Ruth Jones has had a long and successful career. She has worked in theatre, television, and as a writer.

Stage Performances

In 1989, Ruth got her first professional acting job. She played Countess Almaviva in a play called The Marriage of Figaro. This play toured around the UK. After this, she worked in office jobs for a while.

She even thought about becoming a lawyer instead of an actress. But in 1990, comedian Stan Stennett offered her a role. She played a Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle (Michelangelo) in a pantomime show. This was at the same theatre where she had performed in school.

In 2018, Ruth returned to the stage after 12 years. She starred in a new play called Nightingale. In summer 2024, she played Mother Superior in the musical Sister Act in London's West End.

Television Roles and Writing

Ruth's first TV job was a comedy show for BBC Wales. She worked with Rob Brydon on this show. Soon after, she joined an improv group in Bath. There, she met Julia Davis, who she later worked with on Nighty Night and Gavin & Stacey.

She started working in TV and radio comedy for BBC Wales in 1991. She also performed with famous theatre companies. In 1999, she appeared in the hit British film East Is East. In 1996, she was in a BBC drama called Drover’s Gold. She loved exploring Wales for this show.

Ruth became well-known as Kelly in the ITV comedy Fat Friends. There, she met James Corden. She then appeared in BBC comedies like Little Britain as Myfanwy. She also played Magz in Saxondale and Linda in Nighty Night.

In 2007, Ruth became very famous for Gavin & Stacey. She co-wrote the show with James Corden. She also played the main role of Nessa Jenkins. The show became a huge success. Ruth said they just wrote what they wanted. She noted that the show brought a lot of warmth to people.

Gavin & Stacey won many awards, including two BAFTAs. Ruth and Rob Brydon sang "Islands in the Stream" for Comic Relief in 2009. The song reached number one on the music charts.

In 2008, Ruth appeared in two BBC period dramas. These were Tess of the d'Urbervilles and Little Dorrit. She also had roles in The Street. In 2009, she starred in A Child's Christmas in Wales. In 2011, she played Hattie Jacques in the BBC Four drama Hattie.

In 2008, Ruth started her own company, Tidy Productions, with David Peet. This company produced her radio show, Ruth Jones' Sunday Brunch. They also made comedy dramas for S4C.

Tidy Productions also made 58 episodes of the comedy-drama Stella for Sky TV. Ruth created and starred in Stella. She also wrote many episodes. She was worried about comparisons to Gavin & Stacey. But she decided to set Stella in the Rhondda Valley in Wales. She felt it was a "joyously colourful place" with many interesting characters. The show ran for six series and two Christmas specials.

In 2020, Ruth took part in Iaith ar Daith ('Language Road Trip'). This S4C show featured celebrities learning the Welsh language. Ruth and James Corden wrote and starred in the final episode of Gavin & Stacey. It aired on Christmas Day 2024.

Ruth Jones as a Writer

In April 2018, Ruth Jones published her first novel, "Never Greener". It was based on a screenplay she wrote in 2004. The book is about an old relationship that starts again. It explores the dangers of second chances. Her novel became a Sunday Times bestseller. It reached the number-one spot for two weeks.

Ruth's second novel, Us Three, came out in September 2020. It tells the story of three friends whose lives change unexpectedly. Her third novel, Love Untold, was published in 2022.

Ruth Jones's Personal Life

Ruth Jones married David Peet in 1999. He is a television and radio producer. Ruth is a step-mother to David's three children from his previous marriage.

In 2010, Ruth took part in Channel 4's Comedy Gala. This was a special show to raise money for Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

In 2019, Ruth was a guest on BBC Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Her favorite song was "Smooth" by Santana. She chose a family Welsh Bible as her book. Her luxury item was the full collection of The Archers radio show.

Awards and Recognition

Ruth Jones as Nessa at the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards 2015

Ruth Jones was named Best Female Comedy Newcomer at the 2007 British Comedy Awards. She was also nominated for Best Television Comedy Actress. In 2009, she won the Ultimate Funny Woman award from Cosmopolitan magazine.

In 2013, Ruth received an honorary degree from the University of Warwick. In 2022, she received another honorary degree from The Open University in Wales.

Ruth Jones was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 2014. This was for her great contributions to entertainment.

She also received the BAFTA Cymru Sian Phillips Special Recognition Award in 2009. In 2012, she was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Female Comedy Performance for her role in Stella.

Ruth Jones's Film and TV Work

Films

Television Series

Guest Appearances

Ruth Jones's Writing Work

Screenplays

Books

Ruth Jones's Production Work

• Gavin & Stacey (Series 1, 6 episodes: BBC3 and BBC2 2007)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 2, 7 episodes: BBC3 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Christmas Special: December 2008)
• Gavin & Stacey (Series 3, 6 episodes: BBC1 2009,2010)
• Ar Y Tracs Exec. Producer Tidy Productions S4C 2009)

Ruth Jones's Discography

• Islands in the Stream (cover version for Comic Relief)