This week has been one that Welsh actress Calista Davies, 23, won't forget in a hurry. On Monday, May 15 she appeared in BBC drama Steeltown Murders, which tells the shocking story of the 1973 Llandarcy murders.
Calista, who hails from Pontypridd, plays Geraldine Hughes in the four-part drama. Geraldine tragically lost her life at the hands of Joseph Kappen in 1973 but his role in the crime was only proved after he'd died - read the full story behind the new drama here.
Speaking of the response to Steeltown Murders Calista said: “This is all very new to me and for this to be my first big role I’ve just thought, ‘Oh my god, what’s going on?’ My phone has been going crazy with people telling me that they saw me on TV and it’s really overwhelming because I’ve never had anything like this before." For the latest TV and showbiz news sign up to our newsletter here.
Calista recalled how the opportunity to be involved in Steeltown Murders came last year. “I had a self tape in July 2022 and from that, I got called in for an audition with Mark [the director],” she said. “A week later I found out that I had the role and it was very exciting. I’d done a few self tapes before but nothing had come of it. When I went into the main audition I just tried to chill out and relax.”
She described how, upon finding out that she’d landed the role, she researched the case to the best of her ability. “I wanted to find out a bit of background on [Geraldine], who I'd be playing. To be honest, as the majority of the information out there is about the investigation itself, there isn’t much information about what the girls were actually like as teenagers. The script was the first point of call for me and the lines we were given are very similar to how I speak anyway.”
She added that there was an element of pressure in making the drama, as it is based on real-life events. “It wasn’t that long ago and there are people alive who still remember the girls - I wanted to do them justice. They were just teenage girls and they did have a lot of fun as girls. We didn’t want them to just be shown as the girls who were murdered and they had a life before that.”
Calista began her acting career at the Mark Jermin Stage School alongside her Steeltown Murders co-star Jade Croot, who played Pauline Floyd. Her passion for performing then took her to the University of Gloucestershire where she studied performing arts.
In her third year Calista got an agent - JK’s Management, who are based in Aberdare - and following this, she has been able to secure bigger roles. “I was so grateful that Julia [Kelleher, talent agent] was able to take me on because I had no experience with TV. It was quite slow to start but then I had this audition come through and it was something new for me.”
Alongside her acting career Calista works as a lifeguard at David Lloyd Leisure. “Obviously with acting you don’t have that all the time so I’m lifeguarding at the minute. I still want to push the acting and I’m hoping that Steeltown Murders is going to be a big break for me.”
Calista admitted that prior to landing her role in Steeltown Murders, which also stars Philip Glenister and Steffan Rhodri, she almost quit acting. “I went through a phase last year where, a month before I got the audition, I thought that it’s not for me and I need to get another job. It is a very tough industry to get into but if you want to do it then you just keep doing it.”
When asked what advice she'd give younger performers in her industry, Calista replied: “Keep going and never give up! If it’s something you definitely want to do then you will make it and you will do it.”
Catch Calista in Steeltown Murders, which is available in its entirety on BBC iPlayer right now.
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