'Welsh superstar' Richard Burton honoured in home town

"Welsh superstar" Richard Burton and his mentor have been honoured in the actor's home town, 100 years since his birth.

Blue plaques were unveiled in Port Talbot and Pontrhydyfen to commemorate the film star and Philip Burton, who became his legal guardian.

Screen legend Burton, who died aged 58 in 1984 at his home in Switzerland, was an international star who went on to marry - and divorce - actress Elizabeth Taylor twice.

His family have now celebrated his legacy in the village where he was born and the town where he was raised, having been born Richard Jenkins on 10 November 1925.

Plaques were unveiled at Philip Burton's home in Connaught Street in Port Talbot and later at Richard's birthplace in Danybont, Pontrhydyfen.

Philip Burton was a teacher who spotted the young actor's potential, became his legal guardian, lent him his name and helped propel him to stardom.

Kate Burton, Richard Burton's daughter from his first marriage to Sybil Christopher, said: "It's really touching to come back here."

She said it was "important to tell the story" because "Philip Burton and Richard Burton are so much a part of Welsh history".

The late actor's granddaughter, Charlotte, said she felt "connected" to her grandfather being in south Wales for the unveiling.

She added that being able to commemorate her "Welsh elders" was "heart-warming and gratifying".

Burton's niece, Sian Owen, who has lived in the town throughout her life, said the plaques were a "huge honour" not only for her famous uncle but also to the wider family.

"The kids of today perhaps don't know about him so it's very important that they have this to look at. We still have people from all over the world and America coming to see where he was born," she said.

She said can still remember the time she spent with her uncle and Elizabeth Taylor in the village of Pontrhydyfen.

"Elizabeth was the only wife who stayed in Pontrhydyfen. All the others were in five-star hotels," she said.

"I remember one Christmas we had presents from Macy's in New York, and after that I felt like the right bee's knees."

Actor Steffan Rhodri, who portrays Richard Burton's father, Dick Jenkins, in the BBC film Mr Burton said Burton was "the very first Welsh superstar".

The film tells the story of Burton's formative years in a Welsh mining community.

The Swansea-born actor said Burton gave him confidence to think that he could "go out there and be an actor too".

"Of course he became more famous and iconic than any that followed him, not just because of his great acting talent, but because he was one of the first huge celebrities from the film world," he said.

Speaking to Radio Wales Breakfast, Rhodri described the first day of filming as "slightly bizarre" as Burton's daughter, Kate, arrived to "keep an eye on things" during filming.

"I was about to play her grandfather so it was a strange experience," he added.