User:Heledd Bianchi

Heledd Bianchi (Born February 07, 1976 in Llanelwy, Denbighshire) is a Welsh Actress, Singer and Writer. She was brought up in Cardiff. She is best known for her work within the Welsh Television and Theatre Industries.

Personal life

Heledd grew up in Cardiff. The late daughter of Author, Tony Bianchi and Writer/Director, Diana Bianchi. She has an elder Sister, Rhiannon. A vast amount of her early childhood was spent on demonstrations as her parents, co-founders of ‘Côr Cochion Caerdydd’ (Cardiff Red Choir) were active political campaigners. She fondly remembers helping her parents and the Cardiff Red Choir remove South African produce from the shelves at Carrefor Supermarket, Caerphilly which resulted in both her parents and many a choir member being arrested. Fortunately for her and her sister Rhiannon, not all members were arrested so they were taken good care of. She’s always been very proud of her parents’ passion for politics. In her early twenties she received the honour and pleasure of meeting Nelson and Winnie Mandela during their visit to Cardiff. Her parents were also keen ramblers, so when they weren’t on demonstrations, Heledd and her sister were up a mountain.

Career

Her acting career began at the young age of 5, appearing in 'Ffalabalam'(popular Welsh children's television series), followed by an appearance on the children’s television series, 'Let’s Pretend'. Soon after, Heledd, along with a group of children from the parents of 'Côr Cochion Caerdydd' had the pleasure of singing the South African National Anthem to the Iconic Arch Bishop Desmond Tutu at the Royal Albert Hall. She began her stage training at the Youth Sherman Theatre in Cardiff. She appeared in the Sherman Youth Theatre's Production of 'An Emperor’s New Coat'. She began her television training in her early teens at the HTV Drama Workshop (facilitated by Peter Wooldridge) in Cardiff. She landed her first film role at the age of 16 as a supporting artist in the Thriller/Drama 'Double Vision', directed by Robert Knights and starring Hollywood Actress, Kim Cattrall. She landed her first television role a at the age of 17 playing Anne, a Welsh Methodist Woman in the Drama Documentary - 'Y Mae ‘Na Dân Yn Fy Nghalon' (There’s A Fire In My Heart), directed by her mother, Diana Bianchi and presented by the BAFTA winning Actress, Sharon Morgan. She then went on to play Carys in the popular Welsh Soap Opera, 'Pobol Y Cwm' between 1998 and 2001. She has since returned to the soap appearing in many guest roles.

In 2002 she formed Theatr Bwcibo, a bi-lingual theatre company with her writer/director mother, Diana Bianchi. Between 2003 and 2013 she produced, wrote and performed in 12 shows; predominantly one-woman musical theatre and theatre in education shows.

Theatr Bwcibo Shows in order of staging:

Yr Un Cam, Directed by Diana Bianchi The One Road, Directed by Diana Bianchi Catrin Glyndŵr, Directed by Huw Garmon Catrin Glyndŵr (English adaptation which also toured at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival and Arundel Fringe Festival, 2005) Night Chronicles, Directed by Heledd Bianchi Byw’r Gorffennol, Directed by Heledd Bianchi Living The Past, Directed by Heledd Bianchi Bei-Ling Burlesque 2007, Directed by Diana Bianchi Do You Remember?, Directed by Heledd Bianchi Bei-Ling Burlesque 2012, Directerd by Diana Bianchi Ifor Ap Meurig, Y Dyn Dewr, Directed by Heledd Bianchi Dwynwen, Dylwythen Y Don A’r Corachod Bach Ffyddlon Y Tîr, Ffararararaldiri, Directed by Heledd Bianchi