Welsh Hollywood star Rhys Ifans has called for an end to the use of wild animals performing in circuses ahead of a controversial show in Swansea tonight featuring lions and tigers.

The show had been due to open in Bridgend last week, but was cancelled after widespread opposition and has already been barred from England over welfare failings.

Pembrokeshire-born actor Ifans has slammed the use of animals for entertainment as “cruel”, claiming it “belongs in the past”.

The star, known for his roles in Swansea-set comedy Twin Town and box office hit Notting Hill as well as a period in the line-up of Welsh rock band the Super Furry Animals, has added his name to support for Animal Defenders International’s Stop Circus Suffering campaign.

“Like bear baiting, witch burning and the "Welsh not", this cruel practice belongs in the past,” said Ifans, 48.

His passionate declaration puts pressure on the governments of Wales and England to fulfil their pledges to ban wild animal acts.

Animal Defenders International president Jan Creamer said “Rhys is a true star for speaking out on behalf of the lions, tigers and other wild animals who continue to suffer for entertainment.

“Confining these incredible animals to cages and forcing them to perform tricks serves no education or conservation purpose and must be stopped.

“We urge the Welsh Assembly and British Government to urgently move forward with their plans to prohibit them once and for all, and landowners not to allow these archaic acts on their land in the meantime.”

The show - An evening with lions and tigers - features two lions and three tigers and has sparked a public outcry, meeting with political opposition, protests and petitions as it tours.

The show is now touring Wales where regulations for wild animals in circuses do not apply.

A wild animal circus ban in England was announced in 2012 and draft legislation published the following year, but no law had yet been passed.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said earlier this year: “We are pressing the UK government to deliver on the promise to legislate as soon as possible.”

First Minister of Wales, Carwyn Jones recently turned to social media outlet Twitter where he said: “We need to get to a common position with the GB nations on banning circuses with wild animals.”