Jason Hughes (actor)

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For the English academic of the same name, see Jason Hughes (academic). For the British racing driver of the same name, see Jason Hughes (auto racing). For the Louisiana politician of the same name, see Jason Hughes (politician).

Jason Hughes
BornDecember 18th 1971
Porthcawl, Wales
OccupationActor
Years active1994–present
Spouse(s)Natasha Dahlberg
Children3

Jason Hughes (born 1971) is a Welsh actor best known for playing Sergeant Ben Jones in the ITV series, Midsomer Murders (2005-2013) and for the sitcom drama, This Life (1996-1997) in which he played lawyer Warren Jones. Hughes has also appeared in theatre such as the 1999 re-enactment of Our Country’s Good as the Second Lieutenant Ralph Clark.[1] Hughes’s biggest inspirations growing up were Anthony Hopkins and fellow actor Michael Sheen.[1][2]

Background, Early life and Education[]

Jason Hughes’s heritage descends from Italy and Wales; his grandfather Raldo Carpinini was the son of an Italian immigrant from the north of Italy (Bardi) who came and settled into Ammanford (Wales). Hughes Great grandfather was originally trained to lay train tracks but eventually began an ice-cream business. Hughes Grandfather (Mothers side) became a policeman in Porthcawl where he was a Sergeant.[3]

Jason Hughes was born in South Wales and spent most of his early childhood there with his family.[3] Hughes planned to become a sportsman in either rugby or cricket as a teenager but he had to become a lot bigger and lacked the support to become a first class rugby player.[4] When Hughes attended a comprehensive school, from the age of about 11 – 12 he had a teacher that inspired him in his drama classes and encouraged him to apply for the National Youth Theatre of Wales.[1]

Hughes studied drama at in the National Youth Theatre of Wales where he met Michael Sheen in the summer of 1987. Hughes and Sheen lived in the same halls of residence where they became close friends.[2] They were both atypical to acting, coming from a sports background and liked music; Hughes had learnt guitar and piano earlier. He also met actors Ruth Jones, Rob Brydon and Hywel Simons; Simons was a School friend of Sheen's.[2] A few years later, Hughes went on to study drama at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art[5] and moved in with Michael Sheen and his friend, Hywel Simons. Hughes went on to play in the 1999 production of Look Back in Anger with Michael Sheen at the National Youth Theatre and Caligula at the Donmar.[1] Hughes states "It's one of the best things I ever did" When he was on stage in "Look Back in Anger" watching as Michael Sheen was saying a monologue to the crowd seeing this "energy field" around him.

Career and legacy[]

Jason Hughes first big role was lawyer Warren Jones in This Life which aired from 1996 – 1997. It revolves around a group of posh, badly behaved, young lawyers who end up emotionally detached from each other usually due to sex. It was the UK’s hottest drama show of the 1990s and the show won five awards including the Royal Television Society’s award for best drama.[6] Hughes’s character had an impact on the gay community since his character is portrayed as homosexual, causing young gay men to write letters to Hughes about their stories of coming out to their families.[1]

Midsomer Murders Opening Text

Hughes starred in the murder mystery television series Midsomer Murders as Detective Sargent Ben Jones in 2005.[7] The show revolves around two detectives who solve gory and unique murders amongst the tranquil setting of Midsomer County.[8] Hughes was originally told to speak in an English accent as his Welsh accent did not fit the character criteria. Hughes was aware of the show's repertoire after watching a few episodes and he knew the standards the directors were looking for.[3] In the years prior to the role, Hughes had had a 2nd child and was shooting a film in Ireland where all his income went into paying bills.[1] After feeling "irresponsible" and "letting myself, wife and children down" Hughes was reluctant when his agent spoke to him about an interview for Midsomer Murders which gave him 10 months a year of work; Hughes described it as a "gift from the angels". After 2 years of this role, Hughes now had had a steady pay cheque which caused him to sign-up for another 2 years. The 7 years of acting on Midsomer murders influenced Hughes’s acting by learning a technical language and getting used to the lines and formats of scripts.[1] However, In 2013, Hughes left Midsomer Murders after feeling exhausted and detached from his family life.[4]

In 1999, Hughes acted in Our Country’s Good as Ralph Clark; the second lieutenant who is ordered to gather a group of negative and demoralised convicts into a cast that is able to re-enact Farquhar’s The Performing Officer.[9] Hughes was introduced to a six week rehearsal period. Hughes’s character, Ralph Clark was subject to observing the convicts being punished and sentenced to death. Clark gets tired of the constant battle and the heat of the drama, going out of his way to disrupt the rehearsals.[1]

The 1999 production of Look Back in Anger is another theatrical role of Hughes where he plays Cliff lewis alongside co-actor Michael Sheen who plays Jimmy porter. The plot resides a deluded young man (Jimmy Porter) who is abusive to everyone around him especially his wife Alison. Cliff (Jason Hughes) is a loyal friend of Jimmy’s and goes out of his way to try and keep peace with him.[10] Despite Jimmy’s mood swings, he and Cliff have strong bond in their friend ship. Hughes believes theatre is an integral part of many peoples lives. Performing with a good actor influenced Hughes to work harder; when working with Sheen in this play, he felt very comfortable with him being a very old friend of his, there's a sort of "familiarity" that you do not get with strangers.[1]

The 2015 play, Violence and Son, by Gary Owen is about a Welsh, 17 year-old mama's boy whose mother recently passed away from cancer. He is forced to move away to his biological father, Rick (Jason Hughes) who is a bit of a delinquent and goes by Viol. The plot thickens when he meets Jen, a girl he meets in college who shares a passion for doctor who with him. The main problem is she already has a boyfriend, a rugby player called Jorden.[11] Jen decides to stay over, and encouraged by Rick, Liam questions whether he should make a move. It is not aided by being intoxicated, and the characters soon get into a deep discussion about unusual topics to do with male and female anatomy. The play makes up for the name, depicted violence and especially the darkness of sexual violence.[11] Heavily in contrast to his role in Our Country's Good where his character is frightened and pushed around, Hughes states you "couldn’t get two more different characters." Hughes says this role allowed him to push himself and discover things he did not know he had in him. Viol was a dark character and it gave Hughes a sense that he was alive in the role. It affected Hughes as an actor since he could show that there was no trace of himself in the character; he got ride of everything of himself and embodied Vile[1]..

Hughes played in the band, Butterfly Macqueen as lead guitar and back up vocals. He was alongside artists who were mainly actors; Lee Ross, Jason Hughes and Ralph Brown. They were last seen performing a concert in Brighton on February the 12th 2009 for the opening of the American Music Club.[12]

Personal life[]

Hughes is a father of 3 children; Molly, Max and Carys. He is married to jewelry designer Natasha Dahlberg who used to be an actor.[4] Hughes calls himself a family man and part of what caused him to leave Midsomer Murders was due to being away from home for up to six months. When he isn’t acting or spending time with his wife and children, Hughes goes swimming and does yoga.[4] Hughes played in a band called Butterfly McQueen where he sang back-up vocals and played guitar.

Filmography[]

Film[]

Television[]

Theatre[]

Radio[]

  • Green Baize Dream (1995)
  • Cadfael: "Dead Man’s Ransom" (1995)
  • A Clockwork Orange (1998)
  • Cold Calling (2003)
  • Time for Mrs. Milliner (2003)
  • Bubble (2004)
  • The Guest Before You (2004)
  • School Runs (2006)
  • Inspector Steine (2007)
  • Gite a la Mer (2007)
  • The Pale Horse (2017)

Audio books[]

  • Framed (2006)

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k 10 Questions for Actor Jason Hughes, Theartsdesk.com, Jasper Rees, 24th of August 2015
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Adam Jacques 3rd of November 2013, Independent
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c WalesOnline, 15th of October 2005
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b c d The Irish News, 23rd of April 2018, Interviewer: Gabrielle Fagan
  5. ^ MACHT, STEPHEN ROBERT. Indiana University, ProQuest Dissertations Publishing, 1970
  6. ^ http://midsomermurders.org/thislife.htm
  7. ^ The Courier Mail, Geoff Shearer, February 24th 2012
  8. ^ Stefan Hermann Zahlmann, University of Wien, 30th of January 2020
  9. ^ Ann Wilson – ModernDrama, 5th of April 2013
  10. ^ Variety Newsletter, 2nd August 1999
  11. ^ Jump up to: a b Violence and Son, Royal Court Theatre, Aleks Sierz, 9th June 2015
  12. ^ http://www.stybz.com/monszter/Hughes/career/mcqueenprj.htm, Jason Hughes fan page
  13. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j "Jason Hughes: Cast - On Bear Ridge". National Theatre Wales. Archived from the original on 3 November 2020. Retrieved 8 March 2020.

External links[]

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