I heard that things were happening in Dolgellau (where I have lived since 1988) with roads being blocked off on 15th & 16th of April 2026.

It turned out be a two-day shoot for the movie, "A Visit To Grandpa's" which was based on a short story by Dylan Thomas, someone who means a great deal to the star of the film, Sir Anthony Hopkins.

I had a walk around town on the 14th & 15th and saw the shops being changed to look like a Welsh town in the 1950s, plus a few old vehicles were being unloaded and 'fine tuned'.

I was also in the right place at the right time to see Sir Anthony pull up in a white Range Rover and do a scene on the main bridge in Dolgellau ("Y Bont Fawr"). Instead of getting back into his car afterwards, he walked around talking and shaking hands with the locals and letting them take selfies with him. He was very friendly and gracious by all accounts.

The story is based on a short story by Dylan Thomas about a young boy (Artie Wilkinson-Hunt) who is sent on holiday with his eccentric grandfather (played by Hopkins) on a remove Welsh farm.

There were also reports of Catherine Zeta Jones walking around the town too, although she is not credited in the movie.

..Ian King

In “A Visit to Grandpa’s,” Dylan Thomas captures childhood unease with vivid, humorous detail. The young narrator approaches his grandfather’s house with a mix of dread and curiosity, shaped by exaggerated fears and imagination. The domestic setting becomes strange and almost threatening, reflecting how children perceive unfamiliar adult worlds.

Thomas’s lyrical language and playful exaggeration turn an ordinary visit into a small adventure filled with tension and wonder. Beneath the humor lies insight into family dynamics and the gap between generations.

The story highlights how memory transforms simple experiences into lasting, emotionally rich narratives shaped by a child’s perspective.

Sir Anthony Hopkins has long held a profound admiration for the work of Dylan Thomas, finding in it a resonance that feels both artistic and deeply personal. As a fellow Welshman, Hopkins connects not only to Thomas’s themes but to the musicality of his language—the rolling rhythms, rich imagery, and emotional force that define his writing. For Hopkins, Thomas’s words are not merely meant to be read silently; they demand to be spoken, heard, and felt.

This admiration is especially evident in Hopkins’s performances and readings, where he brings Thomas’s poetry to life with precision and reverence. His voice, controlled yet expressive, captures the lyrical quality that makes Thomas’s work so distinctive. Hopkins has often suggested that Thomas’s writing carries a kind of universal humanity, blending humor, sorrow, and beauty in a way that transcends time.

Beyond performance, Hopkins’s appreciation reflects a deeper respect for the craft of language itself. In Thomas’s work, he finds a reminder of how powerful words can be when shaped with care and passion. It is this enduring vitality that continues to draw Hopkins back to Thomas, again and again.