ONE of Wales’ most enduring actresses has been made a Dame in the New Year’s Honours list.

Amman Valley-born Sian Phillips said she was "overwhelmed" by the "totally unexpected" award for services to drama.

Dame Sian, aged 82, was born in Gwaun cae Gurwen and has strong roots in both Neath Port Talbot and Carmarthenshire.

The daughter of teacher Sally and policeman David, she grew up in a Welsh language home and has said she taught herself to speak English by listening to the radio.

It was while she was aged 11 and a student at Pontardawe Grammar School that she began her career, starting with winning the speech-and-drama award for her performance at the National Eisteddfod held at Llandybie in 1944 and continuing with her first professional role - playing a ginger cat on BBC Radio Wales.

She made her television debut at just 17, following that with winning a Welsh acting award at 18.

While in her first year of studying Cardiff University, she worked as a newsreader and announcer for the BBC in Wales and toured the country with productions for the Welsh Arts Council

Following her graduation in 1955 she was accepted for a scholarship with RADA where she quickly gained praise for her performances - winning the prestigious Bancroft Gold Medal for Hedda Gabler .

A long career in TV, film and on the stage followed, including the critically acclaimed Joan of Arc.

I 1959, she met and married notorious hellraiser Peter O'Toole.

During their 20 year marriage, the couple often appeared on stage and screen together including famously in Goodbye, Mr Chips and Under Milk Wood . The couple had two daughters before divorcing in 1979.

In 1976, Dame Sian won two BAFTAs - for How Green Was My Valley and I Claudius. Other awards include a Tony for her one-woman cabaret tribute to Marlene Dietrich. She was awarded the CBE in 2000.

Since 2005, Bafta Cymru has presented the Sian Phillips Award to individuals who have made a significant contribution in film or network television programme.

Dame Sian has always cherished her roots in the Amman Valley and in the summer she returned to Gwaun cae Gurwen to re-trace her family tree for the BBC Wales show Coming Home - a trip she said she found emotional and uplifting especially the discovery that her great-great grandfather fought at the Battle of Waterloo and died a pauper.

Also honoured in the Queen’s New Year’s list is Bruce McLernon, Carmarthenshire County Council's director of social care, health and housing.