5 Welsh Celebrities Making a Humanitarian Difference

CARMARTHENSHIRE, United Kingdom — Wales, with a population of slightly more than 3 million, is remarkably globally conscious. Despite its small size, this land, known for its sheep and songs, boasts celebrities who actively make a difference worldwide. Here are five such Welsh celebrities:

Taron Egerton

The first of the Welsh celebrities in this list is Taron Egerton. He graced screens as the ultimate gentleman, Eggsy, in “Kingsman.” He was catapulted to global fame for his portrayal of Elton John in “Rocketman” in 2019. Hailing from the coastal university town of Aberystwyth, Egerton is a proud Welshman who uses his influence for charitable good. In 2018, he joined other celebrities, Victoria Beckham and James Corden, in urging the public to donate just $6 toward the AIDSFree campaign, raising money for the Elton John AIDS Foundation.

Egerton helped boost awareness of HIV and fund access to treatment abroad, an instrumental component in treating AIDS worldwide. This is because although HIV treatment is often affordable and effective, many people are not even aware they have the disease. The AIDSFree campaign was massively successful in raising awareness, with health secretary at the time, Matt Hancock, pledging to end new HIV infections in Britain by 2030.

Rob Brydon

Affectionately known by fans as “Uncle Bryn” from the sitcom “Gavin and Stacey,” Brydon is considered somewhat of a national treasure from his appearance on the panel show “Would I Lie To You.” Recently starring in Amazon Prime’s new hit series “Lady Jane Grey,” the entertainer from Porthcawl continues to charm audiences, both old and young.

In 2009, Brydon performed a comedy musical number with costar Ruth Jones and singer Tom Jones in character as “Uncle Bryn” for British Charity Comic Relief, which aims to alleviate poverty worldwide. The song “(Barry) Islands in the Stream” entered the top of the U.K. Singles Chart in March 2009. The single raised more than $6 million for the charity.

Michael Sheen

A formidable presence both onstage and onscreen, Sheen is an award-winning actor known for his roles in “Good Omens” and recently “Nye” at the National Theatre of Great Britain. As an ambassador for the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), Sheen visited Lebanon in 2013 to meet children who fled their homes and were living in refugee camps.

In March 2015, Sheen traveled to Guatemala, where he was a part of the Children in Danger Campaign, highlighting the need for goals to be met for the target of violence for children in the new Sustainable Development Goals. When returning to the U.K., Sheen spoke to the Deputy Prime Minister at the time, Nick Clegg, Labor leader Ed Milliband and the Secretary Of State for International Development, Justine Greening, about keeping on track for this target.

Tom Jones

Another of the Welsh celebrities in this list is Tom Jones. Jones is an iconic singer whose career spanned the ’60s, with hits such as “It’s Not Unusual” and “Delilah.” In 2001, Jones and Luciano Pavarotti teamed up to sing a rendition of Jones’ famous song, “Delilah.” All proceeds from the performance went to the United Nations refugee fund for Afghans seeking refuge in Pakistan, fleeing from civil war and drought. The concert raised $3.3 million for its cause.

Luke Evans

Starting as an actor in the West End, London, Luke Evans has starred in movies such as “The Three Musketeers” and “Beauty and the Beast.” As an ambassador for Save the Children, Evans supported several campaigns based in Wales and took part in Letters Live. He also visited Pune, India, in partnership with Bulgari.

In 2023, Evans also fronted Christmas Jumper Day, an initiative for Save the Children that raised a total of $45.53 million since its launch in 2012 to transform children’s lives worldwide and boost global access to food, health care and education.

– Nia Willis