Geraint Todd
Encyclopedia
Geraint Wyn Todd is a Welsh
actor
from Pontypridd
in the South Wales Valleys
who has played several major roles in Welsh
dramas and comedies, and most notable for his role in Cowbois ac Injans
in 2006.
mes such as Halen yn y Gwaed (Salt in the Blood), Pam Fi, Duw? (Why Me, God?), and a small part in Pobol y Cwm
. It was Pam Fi, Duw?, that sparked his interest in acting
and as it was such a popular television series that it led to more acting work. Geraint Todd has stated: "Had I not taken part in Pam Fi, Duw? I would not be an actor today."
From 1997 to 2000 he attended the University of Wales
in Cardiff
where he pursued a double major in History
and English Literature
. Although acting
was always a passion
, he said, he was aware of the difficulty that some actors have in finding work, so he determined to complete his degree as a backup plan. During his final year]] at university he played a role in "Y Palmant Aur". He worked steadily in acting thereafter and says that because of the enjoyment he got from it, after a year of earning his living as an actor he had decided that it was definitely what he wanted to do in life.
series
from 2000 to 2002, such as "A Mind to Kill", "Y Tŷ" (The House), "The Bench", and "Iechyd Da". He also voiced a number of radio
advertisements for Red Dragon FM
, and spent a month going round the schools of Wales
with a theatre education tour, on behalf of the Welsh Books Council
(Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru), in order to promote reading amongst young people. He also had the opportunity to present two series of a music and travel programme called "Bicini" which won the Young People's Award at the Celtic Film and Television Festival
(Féile na Méan Ceilteach) in 2001.
In March 2002 he filmed "Xtra", a soap
, in North Wales
, returning briefly to Cardiff
in early 2003 to do Triongl (Triangle), a three-part dramatic series, then went back north for a second series of Xtra before moving back to Cardiff
in late 2003.
In 2004 he worked with a friend, Gareth Bryn Evans
, on a short film "Waking Sleep," with a Welsh
version made at the start of 2005. The film
was also screened at the Cardiff Film Festival. He also worked on a drama series
called Amdani, and voiced a Welsh version of the popular Japanese anime Beyblade, of which a second series was recorded in early 2005.
In 2006 he played the leading role as David Manning (Manny) in Cowbois ac Injans
, a Welsh comedy-drama
broadcast on S4C
in October 2006 and March 2007. He also played the role of Merlin the Magician
in the 2008 television show Herio’r Ddraig.
Welsh people
The Welsh people are an ethnic group and nation associated with Wales and the Welsh language.John Davies argues that the origin of the "Welsh nation" can be traced to the late 4th and early 5th centuries, following the Roman departure from Britain, although Brythonic Celtic languages seem to have...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
from Pontypridd
Pontypridd
Pontypridd is both a community and a principal town of Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales and is situated 12 miles/19 km north of the Welsh capital city of Cardiff...
in the South Wales Valleys
South Wales Valleys
The South Wales Valleys are a number of industrialised valleys in South Wales, stretching from eastern Carmarthenshire in the west to western Monmouthshire in the east and from the Heads of the Valleys in the north to the lower-lying, pastoral country of the Vale of Glamorgan and the coastal plain...
who has played several major roles in Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
dramas and comedies, and most notable for his role in Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans is a Welsh language television drama written by brother and sister Jon and Catherine Tregenna for S4C...
in 2006.
Biography
Geraint Todd started his acting career when in school, with parts on television programTelevision program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
mes such as Halen yn y Gwaed (Salt in the Blood), Pam Fi, Duw? (Why Me, God?), and a small part in Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm
Pobol y Cwm is a Welsh-language television soap opera which has been produced by the BBC since October 1974. The longest-running television soap opera produced by the BBC, Pobol y Cwm was originally transmitted on BBC Wales television and later transferred to the Welsh-language station S4C when it...
. It was Pam Fi, Duw?, that sparked his interest in acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
and as it was such a popular television series that it led to more acting work. Geraint Todd has stated: "Had I not taken part in Pam Fi, Duw? I would not be an actor today."
From 1997 to 2000 he attended the University of Wales
University of Wales
The University of Wales was a confederal university founded in 1893. It had accredited institutions throughout Wales, and formerly accredited courses in Britain and abroad, with over 100,000 students, but in October 2011, after a number of scandals, it withdrew all accreditation, and it was...
in Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
where he pursued a double major in History
History
History is the discovery, collection, organization, and presentation of information about past events. History can also mean the period of time after writing was invented. Scholars who write about history are called historians...
and English Literature
English literature
English literature is the literature written in the English language, including literature composed in English by writers not necessarily from England; for example, Robert Burns was Scottish, James Joyce was Irish, Joseph Conrad was Polish, Dylan Thomas was Welsh, Edgar Allan Poe was American, J....
. Although acting
Acting
Acting is the work of an actor or actress, which is a person in theatre, television, film, or any other storytelling medium who tells the story by portraying a character and, usually, speaking or singing the written text or play....
was always a passion
Passion (emotion)
Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
, he said, he was aware of the difficulty that some actors have in finding work, so he determined to complete his degree as a backup plan. During his final year]] at university he played a role in "Y Palmant Aur". He worked steadily in acting thereafter and says that because of the enjoyment he got from it, after a year of earning his living as an actor he had decided that it was definitely what he wanted to do in life.
Notable Roles
After graduation he worked on a variety of Cardiff dramaDrama
Drama is the specific mode of fiction represented in performance. The term comes from a Greek word meaning "action" , which is derived from "to do","to act" . The enactment of drama in theatre, performed by actors on a stage before an audience, presupposes collaborative modes of production and a...
series
Television program
A television program , also called television show, is a segment of content which is intended to be broadcast on television. It may be a one-time production or part of a periodically recurring series...
from 2000 to 2002, such as "A Mind to Kill", "Y Tŷ" (The House), "The Bench", and "Iechyd Da". He also voiced a number of radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
advertisements for Red Dragon FM
Red Dragon FM
Capital South Wales is a British independent local radio station broadcasting from Cardiff Bay . The station serves Cardiff, Newport and the surrounding areas, broadcasting to a potential audience of around 1 million people...
, and spent a month going round the schools of Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
with a theatre education tour, on behalf of the Welsh Books Council
Welsh Books Council
The Welsh Books Council or Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru was established in 1961 under the name of Cyngor Llyfrau Cymraeg . Today it is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government. The Council's aims are to promote the interest in Welsh language books and English language books of interest to Wales...
(Cyngor Llyfrau Cymru), in order to promote reading amongst young people. He also had the opportunity to present two series of a music and travel programme called "Bicini" which won the Young People's Award at the Celtic Film and Television Festival
Celtic Media Festival
The Celtic Media Festival, previously known as the Celtic Film and Television Festival, aims to promote the languages and cultures of the Celtic nations on screen and in broadcasting. The festival is an annual three-day celebration of broadcasting and film from Scotland, Ireland, Wales, Cornwall...
(Féile na Méan Ceilteach) in 2001.
In March 2002 he filmed "Xtra", a soap
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, in North Wales
North Wales
North Wales is the northernmost unofficial region of Wales. It is bordered to the south by the counties of Ceredigion and Powys in Mid Wales and to the east by the counties of Shropshire in the West Midlands and Cheshire in North West England...
, returning briefly to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in early 2003 to do Triongl (Triangle), a three-part dramatic series, then went back north for a second series of Xtra before moving back to Cardiff
Cardiff
Cardiff is the capital, largest city and most populous county of Wales and the 10th largest city in the United Kingdom. The city is Wales' chief commercial centre, the base for most national cultural and sporting institutions, the Welsh national media, and the seat of the National Assembly for...
in late 2003.
In 2004 he worked with a friend, Gareth Bryn Evans
Gareth Evans
Gareth Evans may refer to:* Gareth Evans , philosopher at Oxford University and student of Michael Dummett* Gareth Evans , former Australian politician and former head of the International Crisis Group...
, on a short film "Waking Sleep," with a Welsh
Welsh language
Welsh is a member of the Brythonic branch of the Celtic languages spoken natively in Wales, by some along the Welsh border in England, and in Y Wladfa...
version made at the start of 2005. The film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
was also screened at the Cardiff Film Festival. He also worked on a drama series
Dramatic programming
Dramatic programming in the UK, or television drama and television drama series in the US, is television program content that is scripted and fictional along the lines of √a traditional drama. This excludes, for example, sports television, television news, reality show and game shows, stand-up...
called Amdani, and voiced a Welsh version of the popular Japanese anime Beyblade, of which a second series was recorded in early 2005.
In 2006 he played the leading role as David Manning (Manny) in Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans
Cowbois ac Injans is a Welsh language television drama written by brother and sister Jon and Catherine Tregenna for S4C...
, a Welsh comedy-drama
Comedy-drama
Comedy-drama is a genre of theatre, film and television programs which combines humorous and serious content.-Theatre:Traditional western theatre, beginning with the ancient Greeks, was divided into comedy and tragedy...
broadcast on S4C
S4C
S4C , currently branded as S4/C, is a Welsh television channel broadcast from the capital, Cardiff. The first television channel to be aimed specifically at a Welsh-speaking audience, it is the fifth oldest British television channel .The channel - initially broadcast on...
in October 2006 and March 2007. He also played the role of Merlin the Magician
Merlin
Merlin is a legendary figure best known as the wizard featured in the Arthurian legend. The standard depiction of the character first appears in Geoffrey of Monmouth's Historia Regum Britanniae, written c. 1136, and is based on an amalgamation of previous historical and legendary figures...
in the 2008 television show Herio’r Ddraig.