Playing a small role in the finale of the BBC comedy Gavin & Stacey has been a high point in an award‑winning career spanning stage and screen, says Welsh actress Rakie Ayola.
She said her role as the registrar who wed the beloved characters Nessa and Smithy, portrayed by series creators Ruth Jones and James Corden, was a pivotal moment.
\”Standing between Ruth and James, it suddenly occurred to me that this was the picture,\” Ayola said.
\”I thought, ‘wow, look at me, this is the most important and influential minute of my career.’\”
The BAFTA Cymru‑winning actress has appeared in television dramas including The Pact, Anthony, Silent Witness, Casualty and Doctor Who, among others.
Ayola, a Cardiff native, explained that the opportunity to appear in the comedy, set between Barry and Billericay, came about after she bumped into Jones while visiting a theatre.