Jonathan Pryce returns to north Wales roots for Sky crime drama Under Salt Marsh
Veteran actor Sir Jonathan Pryce has returned to his north Wales roots in his latest television role, playing a farmer in Sky’s six-part crime thriller Under Salt Marsh. With a career spanning more than five decades and iconic portrayals including Pope Francis, Prince Philip and King Lear, Pryce says this role held special personal meaning due to his family connections to the region where the series was filmed. Shot across Gwynedd and Anglesey in 2025, the drama is set in the fictional Welsh town of Morfa Halen and centres on the investigation into the death of a schoolboy, with an approaching storm threatening to destroy crucial evidence.
Pryce plays Solomon Bevan, the patriarch of a farming family and grandfather of the young boy whose death shocks the community. The actor, who grew up in Holywell, said the opportunity allowed him to reconnect with the landscapes, dialects and people that shaped his early life. Drawing inspiration from relatives from Bethesda and Bangor, Pryce incorporated memories of his uncles and great-uncles into the character, even embracing the distinctive local accent that he recalls fondly from childhood.
The series also stars Kelly Reilly as former detective Jackie Ellis and Rafe Spall as Detective Eric Bull. Reilly shared her own affection for Wales, recalling formative childhood experiences camping near Snowdon, while Spall praised the Welsh landscape as a central presence in the show, describing the production’s cinematic visual quality. Both actors expressed hope that Welsh audiences would feel proud of the portrayal of their home.
Beyond the drama itself, Pryce highlighted the strength of Welsh acting talent and called for greater investment in Welsh theatre to support emerging performers. He expressed optimism about initiatives such as Michael Sheen’s Welsh National Theatre, which aims to nurture the next generation of actors. Under Salt Marsh is set for release at the end of January, combining a gripping mystery with a strong sense of place and cultural identity.