After over two decades of gripping storylines and emotional highs, Pobol y Cwm star Lauren Phillips, who plays Kelly Evans, has opened up about her journey on the iconic Welsh soap.
In an exclusive chat with Eastieoaks.com, from battling bulimia on-screen to literal cliffhangers, Lauren has experienced it all, and now she’s sharing her most cherished moments.
Recalling her early days, Lauren said: “The first highlight that comes to mind is the day I walked into the old BBC studio. I was so nervous. I didn’t think I’d still be here 21 years later. My first scenes were filming a court case, and I remember thinking how lucky I was – it felt like I was living someone else’s life!”
Over the years, Lauren has tackled some of the show’s most gripping storylines, with one of her standout challenges being the Bulimia plotline. “That storyline was 20 years ago,” she shared. “The team worked incredibly hard to represent people suffering with bulimia, and some of the scenes were very graphic. You have to be honest with topics like that. I had to do a lot of research.”
But it wasn’t just emotional storylines that pushed Lauren. One of her most intense experiences came when her character Kelly was kidnapped and dragged to the edge of a cliff by Ed, a dramatic moment that had fans on the edge of their seats. “We were filming on location in this run-down cottage, and then we got driven to the top of a cliff, and they started attaching wires to us,” Lauren revealed. “We didn’t realize how steep the drop was. When you watch it back, it’s just wow.”
That particular week of filming remains one of the best of Lauren’s career, especially when it led to a surreal encounter with Welsh superstar Michael Sheen. “I didn’t know who was going to be playing the doctor in the hospital scenes after Kelly’s ordeal,” she explained. “Then one of the producers told me, ‘It’s Michael Sheen,’ and I won’t tell you what I said because I swore! But working with him was incredible.”
Lauren cherishes the diverse storylines on the show, from serious dramas to more lighthearted moments. “Kelly has a lot of sass and humour. Organising Christmas processions and getting the whole community involved was so much fun,” she said.
As Pobol y Cwm celebrates its 50th anniversary, Lauren reflected on the show’s enduring appeal: “We love looking inside the windows of other people’s lives. It’s that sense of community, and yet you never quite know what’s going to happen next. There’s warmth, humour, and it’s always pushing boundaries.”
Proud of the show’s Welsh roots, Lauren noted how the soap continues to make waves beyond Wales. “Many viewers watch with subtitles and learn Welsh words. Kelly speaks an imperfect Welsh, and I hope that inspires people to feel confident in their language abilities,” she added.
With two decades of iconic moments under her belt, Lauren Phillips remains a beloved figure on the show – and if her past storylines are anything to go by, there’s plenty more drama still to come.
- Kelly boasts the largest wardrobe collection
- First Appearance: 13th October 2003
Pobol y Cwm airs Tuesday and Thursday on S4C at 8.00pm with catchup via Clic and Iplayer
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