# Sian Reese-Williams

Sian Reese-Williams (born 18 November 1981) is a Welsh actress, best known for playing detective Cadi John in three series of Hidden.

## Early life

Reese-Williams was born in Glanamman, South Wales. She lived in Swansea until the age of 4, when her family moved to Brecon, Mid Wales, where she attended Brecon High School. She is a native Welsh speaker.
She graduated in drama from the University of Hull and trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. She now lives in South London.

## Television

In 2008, Reese-Williams was cast to play the role of Gennie Walker in Emmerdale. The character was created by series producer Kathleen Beedles, although by the time Reese-Williams's first episode aired on 1 April 2008, Anita Turner had taken over from Beedles. She was cast in the role and started filming in the week beginning 3 March 2008. In 2013, it was announced that Reese-Williams was to leave the soap. Her character was killed off on 25 July 2013.
In 2016, she featured in series 3 of critically acclaimed Welsh crime drama Hinterland / Y Gwyll, playing DI Tom Matthias's love interest, Manon.
In 2017, she starred in series 3 of the BAFTA Award-winning 35 Diwrnod for S4C.
Reese-Williams played the role of Trudy in the BBC One/Netflix drama Requiem, which aired in early 2018, followed by the lead role of Detective Inspector Cadi John, in a bilingual crime drama that was shown on S4C in January 2018 as Craith, with all dialogue recorded in both English and Welsh, before being broadcast on BBC Wales and BBC Four as Hidden in June 2018. A second series aired in 2019. A third and final series aired in 2022.
In January 2020, she appeared in Silent Witness as Tina Harcourt, a long time beaten wife who took revenge on the husbands & partners of other beaten women by killing some and framing others for their murders.
Reese-Williams commenced work in BBC serial hospital drama Holby City in November 2020, playing Jodie, a tea lady, who has a relationship with consultant Sacha Levy, while he is recovering from the recent death of his fiancée Essie De Lucca. Reese-Williams appeared in Vera on 29 August 2021 in the episode "Witness" in the role of Beth Draper.

## Theatre

Following her stint in Emmerdale, Reese-Williams returned to theatre and in November 2013 played "Marta" in Children of Fate at the Bussey Building in Peckham.
In May/June 2014, she played 'Linda' in Alan Bennett's Enjoy at the West Yorkshire Playhouse.
She has worked extensively with new-writing theatre Paines Plough on their Roundabout Theatre season. She starred to wide critical acclaim as W in Duncan Macmillan's Lungs, which was awarded the 2016 Manchester Theatre Award for Best Studio Production.
In 2019 respectively, Sian played the lead character of 'Gina' in Roy Williams "Sing Yer Heart Out for the Lads", at Chichester Festival Theatre. Following 5 star reviews, the production was set to transfer to the Royal National Theatre's Dorfman in 2020. The transfer was cancelled due to the pandemic. She reprised the role at CFT's Minerva Theatre in 2022.

## Filmography

Television :
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2007 | Cowbois ac Injans | Stella | 1 episode |
| 2008–2013 | Emmerdale | Gennie Walker | Series Regular; 722 episodes |
| 2016 | Hinterland | Manon | Series 3 regular |
| 2017 | 35 Diwrnod | Sara | Main role |
| 2017 | Requiem | Trudy Franken | Main role |
| 2018–2021 | Hidden | DCI Cadi John | 3 series, Main role |
| 2019 | Line of Duty | Sgt. Jane Cafferty | Series 5 |
| 2019 | Pili Pala | Sara Morris | Main role |
| 2020 | Silent Witness | Tina Harcourt | |
| 2020–2021 | Holby City | Jodie Rodgers | Recurring role |
| 2022 | Vera | Beth | |
| 2023 | Wolf | DI Maia Lincoln | 6 episodes |
Film :
| Year | Film | Role |
| 2019 | Justine | Leanne |
| 2024 | The Beautiful Game | Sian |
| Unreleased | Cysylltiad (Connection) | Luned |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Result |
| 2008 | Inside Soap Awards | Best Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2008 | 14th National Television Awards | Most Popular Newcomer | Nominated |
| 2013 | The British Soap Awards | Best Actress | Nominated |
| 2021 | International Film Festival of Wales | Best Supporting Actress | Won |