Cardiff is the capital and largest city of Wales. Many notable people were born in Cardiff or share a strong association with the city, ranging from historical figures such as Henry Morgan to more recent figures such as Roald Dahl, Ken Follett and Griff Rhys Jones. In particular, the city has been the birthplace of international sportsmen and women, including Olympic athletes such as Paulo Radmilovic, Tanni Grey-Thompson and Colin Jackson. Many professional and international footballers, such as Craig Bellamy, Gareth Bale, Ryan Giggs and Joe Ledley, and former managers of the Wales national football team Terry Yorath and John Toshack were born in Cardiff, as were a number of international rugby union and rugby league players including Frank Whitcombe, Billy Boston, Gareth Llewellyn and Colin Dixon.

Cardiff is also well known for its musicians such as Ivor Novello, after whom the Ivor Novello Awards are named. Shirley Bassey is familiar to many as the singer of three James Bond movie theme tunes, while Charlotte Church is famous as a crossover classical/pop singer, and Shakin' Stevens was one of the top selling male artists in the UK during the 1980s. A number of Cardiff-based bands, such as Catatonia and the Super Furry Animals, were popular during the 1990s.

Art and literature

Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1923 2014 Poet and writer Born in Cardiff 1961 — Novelist Born in Cardiff 1937 — Poet, was named the third National Poet of Wales in 2008 Born in Cardiff 1916 1990 Author of works such as James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Matilda, The Witches, Fantastic Mr Fox and The BFG Born in Llandaff, Cardiff 1947 — Poet, author of works such as Real Cardiff, Real Wales, Edging The Estuary, and Zen Cymru Born in Cardiff 1949 — Author of works such as The Key to Rebecca, Lie Down with Lions, Triple, and World Without End Born in Cardiff 1912 1990 Artist Born in Cardiff 1860 1952 Sculptor, specialising in public monuments and statues of public figures Born in Canton, Cardiff 1929 — Welsh language academic and writer, former chair in Welsh language at Aberystwyth University Born in Cardiff 1962 2006 Actor and author of The Word on the Street Born in Cardiff 1959 — First National Poet of Wales, wrote the words which appear on the front elevation of the Wales Millennium Centre Born in Cardiff Helen Mackay 1897 1973 Artist, sculptor Born in Cardiff 1930 2001 Poet, critic, professor of literature, and former education spokesman in the House of Lords Born in Cardiff 1873 1959 Cornish language author Born in Cardiff 1903 1991 Poet, author, broadcaster, artist, illustrator and designer Born in Cardiff 1920 2009 Artist Born and lived in Cardiff Michael Raven19382008AuthorBorn in Cardiff 1928 2004 Author of works such as Madame Sousatzka, The Elected Member (winner of the 1970 Booker Prize) and A Solitary Grief Born in Cardiff — Author Born in Cardiff 1839 1899 Impressionist painter: one of the original French Impressionists, though he himself was British; produced seventeen paintings of Penarth and the Gower in 1897 Married in Cardiff Register Office in 1897; two of his Welsh paintings are in the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff 1889 1965 Author of works such as Fame Is the Spur and My Son, My Son! Born in Cardiff 1886 1966 Painter, specialising in portraits of American political and military figures such as Dwight D. Eisenhower Born in Cardiff 1913 2000 Poet, nominated for the 1995 Nobel Prize for Literature Born in Cardiff 1888 1960 Portrait painter Born in Cardiff 1891 1969 Writer, biographer and editor, co-wrote the screenplay for The Man Who Knew Too Much Lived in Cardiff since childhood

Business and finance Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1871 1955 Established his own shipping company, became chairman of a large number of shipping companies in Cardiff, Penarth and Barry, chairman of the federation of Bristol Channel shipowners, and chairman of the Cardiff Chamber of Trade; former Member of Parliament for Cardiff East and Cardiff Central Born in Llandaff, Cardiff 1954 — Venture capitalist and former director of Google Born in Cardiff 1942 — Chairman and former president and CEO of Sony Corporation Born in Cardiff 1879 1932 Engineer, urban planner, president of three Canadian utility companies Lived in Cardiff since childhood

Entertainment

Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1963 — Screenwriter and comedy writer, was involved in works such as I'm Alan Partridge, Brass Eye, Monkey Dust, and Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan Born in Cardiff 1997 — Television and stage actress who has appeared in The Dumping Ground, So Awkward and Hollyoaks Born in Cardiff 1933 2023 Actress who has appeared in Charlesworth, Rogue Male and The Wednesday Play Born in Cardiff 1974 — Film director and screenwriter, directed Are You Ready for Love? Born in Cardiff 1978 — Television celebrity, first appeared on Wogan in 1988 Lived in Cardiff since early childhood 1986/7 — Radio and TV presenter Born in Cardiff 1978 — Television and radio presenter, presented Blue Peter from 2005 to 2008 Born in Cardiff 1938 1987 Film director, involved in works such as Return of the Jedi, Jagged Edge and Hearts of Fire Born in Llanishen, Cardiff 1930 1997 Television scriptwriter, creator of the Daleks Born in Cardiff 1946 1999 Film, television and stage actor, involved in works such as Doctor in the House, The Tragedy of Macbeth and The Vault of Horror Lived in Cardiff since childhood 1914 1995 Stage actress and entertainer, involved in works such as The Girl Who Came to Supper, The Russians Are Coming, the Russians Are Coming and Bedknobs and Broomsticks Born in Cardiff 1920 2006 Television presenter, dramatist and antiques expert, wrote Castle of Deception Born in Cardiff 1973 — Professional skateboarder, part of the Dirty Sanchez crew, made regular appearances on Balls of Steel Born in Cardiff 1949 2012 Film, stage and television actress, involved in works such as Poldark, The Gathering Storm, The Avengers and Under Milk Wood Lived in Cardiff since childhood 1985 — Film and television actor, singer-songwriter, involved in works such as Pobol y Cwm, Misfits and Game of Thrones Lived in Cardiff since childhood 1974 — Film and television actor, involved in works such as Brothers & Sisters, The Edge of Love and The Americans Born in Cardiff 1953 — Comedian, writer and actor, involved in works such as Not the Nine O'Clock News, Alas Smith and Jones and Morons from Outer Space Born in Cardiff 1971 — Television presenter, involved in works such as The Big Breakfast, Scrapheap Challenge and Loose Women Born in Cardiff 1925 2013 Comedian, actor and jazz musician, involved in works such as Coronation Street, Crossroads and Casualty Born in Cardiff 1979 — Television actress, involved in works such as Midsomer Murders, Foyle's War and The Inspector Lynley Mysteries Born in Cardiff 1985 — Television and film actress, involved in works such as Spice World, The Prince and the Pauper and The Tudors Born in Cardiff 1926 2005 Stage actor and director, involved in works such as The Duchess of Malfi, As You Like It and Antony and Cleopatra Born in Cardiff 1962 — Film and television actor, best known for his role as Methos in Highlander: The Series Born in Grangetown, Cardiff

Historical figures Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1444 1449 15th Countess of Warwick Born in Cardiff c. 1635 1684 Bucaneer and colonial administrator Born in Caerau, Cardiff Archibald Dickson 1892 1939 Captain of the SS Stanbrook Born in Caerau, Cardiff

Journalism

Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1951 — Author and critic for The Observer, GQ and Car Magazine Born in Cardiff 1960 — Journalist and television presenter, Middle East Editor for the BBC since 2005 Born in Cardiff 1963 — Radio reporter for BBC Radio 2 Born in Splott, Cardiff 1913 1998 Newspaper journalist, former chairman of Mirror Group Newspapers Born in Cathays, Cardiff 1966 — Former television news correspondent for S4C and BBC Wales, Director of Communications at News International since May 2012 Born in Cardiff 1943 — Television and radio presenter, journalist, main presenter for the BBC's Nine O'Clock News from 1981 to 1987 Born in Splott, Cardiff 1922 2007 Football commentator for ITV and HTV Wales, commentated on four World Cup finals including the 1966 FIFA World Cup Final Lived in Cardiff from childhood 1975 — Television and radio presenter of BBC Wales Today and BBC Radio Wales Born in Cardiff 1952 2008 Television and newspaper journalist for BBC Wales, BBC Radio 4, Thames News and The Sunday Times Born in Cardiff 1970 — Television presenter for HTV Wales, ITV News and BBC News Born in Llandaff, Cardiff 1967 — Documentary journalist, author of Them: Adventures with Extremists and The Men Who Stare at Goats, film maker and radio presenter Born in Cardiff

Military

Name Born Died Description Connection with Cardiff Ref 1891 1952 Served in World War I with the Royal Welch Fusiliers, recipient of the Victoria Cross Born in Cardiff 1960 — Served with the Blues and Royals in Northern Ireland, the Falklands War, the Bosnian War, the Second Gulf War and the War in Afghanistan, recipient of the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross and the Military Cross Born in Cardiff 1909 1989 Served with the Royal Artillery in World War II, attained the rank of Brigadier, recipient of the Distinguished Service Order; played cricket for Glamorgan and Egypt as a right-arm medium-fast bowler Born in Llandaff, Cardiff 1676 1751 Admiral of the Royal Navy, served in the Caribbean, Queen Anne's War, the East Indies, the War of the Quadruple Alliance and the War of the Austrian Succession Born in Llandaff, Cardiff 1827 1864 Served with the Royal Welch Fusiliers in the Crimean War, recipient of the Victoria Cross Born in Cardiff

Music

Performers