US Actor Hans Obma Joins Welsh Soap After Learning Language
American actor Hans Obma, known for roles in Better Call Saul, The Vampire Diaries, and Criminal Minds, has joined the cast of the Welsh-language soap opera Pobl y Cwm after learning Welsh. Inspired by his Welsh grandmother, Olive Cecile Hales, who was from Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, Obma now splits his time between Wisconsin and Wales. He plays an American character in the show, which is 97% in Welsh. Pobl y Cwm, first broadcast on BBC Wales on 16 October 1974, is the BBC's oldest television soap and moved to S4C in 1982. Obma learned Welsh by watching Pobol y Cwm, Rownd a Rownd, and Newyddion S4C. He will attend the Eisteddfod in August and hopes to continue working in the Welsh language.
Key facts
- Hans Obma is a US actor who learned Welsh to join Pobl y Cwm.
- He played roles in Better Call Saul, The Vampire Diaries, and Criminal Minds.
- Obma's grandmother was from Brynmawr, Blaenau Gwent, Wales.
- Pobl y Cwm is the BBC's oldest television soap, first broadcast on 16 October 1974.
- The show moved to S4C in 1982 and airs three times a week.
- Obma's character is American, so he retains his accent, but the show is 97% in Welsh.
- He splits his time between Wales and Wisconsin.
- Obma will attend the Eisteddfod in August.
Entities
Artists
- Hans Obma
Institutions
- BBC Wales
- S4C
- Netflix
Locations
- Wales
- United Kingdom
- Wisconsin
- United States
- Brynmawr
- Blaenau Gwent
- Cardiff
- Llŷn Peninsula
- Gwynedd
- Pembrokeshire
- Cwmderi
- Whitchurch