Singer Self Esteem to make cinematic debut in film set in 1980s

Image source, DEPOT LIVE

Image caption, Self Esteem headlined Cardiff Castle in July this year

ByDanielle Herbert

BBC Wales

Singer Self Esteem has landed her first major movie role, starring in a film set in 1980s Wales.

The coming of age story, Mountain, directed by Celyn Jones, was filmed in his home town of Holyhead, on Anglesey.

Peter Mullan, Iwan Rheon and Seth Isaac Thomas will star alongside Rebecca Lucy Taylor, who goes by the stage name Self Esteem.

The film tells the story of a neglected young boy in 1980s Wales, looking for friendship and community when he meets a man living alone on a mountain.

Jones said filming the project, which wrapped earlier this year, had been "an emotional and spiritual homecoming".

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Self Esteem is no stranger to both the stage and screen but this is her first acting role in a major feature film

Self Esteem, known for her hit tracks Focus Is Power and I Do This All The Time, is no stranger to commanding both the stage and screen.

The pop star performed in the hit London West End musical, Cabaret in 2023, and the revival of David Hare's 1975 play, Teeth 'n' Smiles, earlier this year.

She also took on roles in the Sky Comedy series Smothered and Sky TV drama I Hate Suzie.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Director Celyn Jones says the project feels "deeply personal" to him, following filming in his north Wales home town

Speaking to Variety, external following the project's announcement, Jones said he was "honoured to bring a world class team, on both sides of the camera" to north Wales.

Despite telling a fictional tale, Jones said the project feels "deeply personal" to him, with "emotional themes and humour that many can relate to".

"I'm really looking forward to bringing it to life and sharing the cinematic beauty of home with the world."

Peter Mullan, who previously worked with Jones on psychological thriller The Vanishing, said: "When I read the script, I emailed Celyn and said: 'You made me cry, I'm in!'

"It will be great for us to work together again and in such a beautiful part of the world too."

An official release date for Mountain has not yet been announced.

Source note

First published by BBC Culture

This article was supplied by BBC Culture through its RSS feed and formatted for Crooli Signal. The reporting remains with the original publisher.

Read the original at BBC Culture