28 February 2013

On St David's Day, Pontrhydyfen actor Richard Burton is to be honoured on Hollywood Boulevard as a star is unveiled in his name. And thanks to an S4C programme one of his closest Welsh relatives has been able to make the journey across The Pond for the ceremony.

Richard Burton's niece Siân Owen will be in Los Angeles today on behalf of S4C and with her a film crew from Tinpolis production company. They are filming a programme, Seren Burton, which will be broadcast on S4C on Thursday 14 March. While noting the unveiling of the iconic star the programme will celebrate the actor though the memories of someone who knew him well.

"I'm very grateful to S4C and Tinopolis for taking me there for the ceremony. I think my late mother would be very glad I was able to go, as one of the family who still lives in Pontrhydyfen," says Siân. "I was very close to my Uncle Rich and I'm looking forward to seeing family members who live in America and I've not seen for some time. And everyone there to celebrate Uncle Rich."

This is the first time that Siân has visited LA for several years. But at one time she would regularly visit to stay will her uncle and his wife Elizabeth Taylor. She is delighted to see his star on Hollywood Boulevard at last.

"At last! I have to say that. At last the stone is placed on Hollywood Boulevard with a star in memory of my uncle," says Siân, who agrees it's very apt the star has been placed next to Elizabeth Taylors. "They always wanted to be together, and at last here are the two stars placed side by side."

In the programme Siân will take us to some of her uncle's favourite haunts, and places that she would attend with him and his wife including this home.

The programme will also include interviews with some of Hollywood Welshmen - Ioan Gruffudd and Michael Sheen among them - as they consider the influence of Richard Burton had on them.

But more than anything, the programme is a celebration of the actor through the memories of someone who knew him very well.

Seren Burton will be show on S4C on Thursday 14 March at 8.25. Following the programme the archive programme Yng Ngolau Seren Wib will features friends and family of the actor Richard Burton [1925-1984] who reflect on the life and loves of the boy from Pontrhydyfen. And on Sunday 17 March at 10.15 a chance to see, Boddi Dolwyn a documentary which takes a nostalgic return to the village of Rhydymain, where Last Days of Dolwyn, Burton's first film was shot.

Ends