Actor-turned-director Celyn Jones is no stranger to telling stories both in front of and behind the camera,  but with Madfabulous, he may have found his most striking subject yet. Premiering at this year’s BFI Flare: London LGBTQIA+ Film Festival, the film explores the extraordinary life of Henry Paget, the flamboyant 5th Marquess of Anglesey; a man whose life feels as modern as it does historical.

Speaking to HeyUGuys recently, Jones reflects on what first drew him to the story. For him, it all began with a single image.

“You think it’s David Bowie, it’s Marc Bolan, it’s Freddie Mercury… and then you see 1890 north Wales. So there I go. Okay, I’m in.”

That striking contrast between glam rock iconography and Victorian Wales became the gateway into Paget’s world. For Jones, the sheer audacity of the figure was impossible to ignore, but what fascinated him even more was that the seemingly unbelievable details of his life are grounded in truth.

“All those things did happen… He did adopt a child… he did buy a theatre company and move them into his house… he did buy a whole window of jewels.”

It’s this balance between spectacle and authenticity that defines Madfabulous. While the film leans into Paget’s extravagance, it never loses sight of the person beneath the legend. Jones was keen to avoid turning him into a caricature, instead focusing on the instinctive, almost innocent way he disrupted social norms.

“He’s breaking those rules without even thinking of being a punk or being a rule breaker. He’s just being himself.”

In many ways, Paget emerges as both a rebel and a dreamer; someone driven less by status and more by expression. Jones describes him as a kind of theatrical child let loose in a world without limits.

“What happens to a theatrical kid who has all the money in the world where they just buy a bigger theater, don’t they?”

That sense of curiosity and ambition sits at the heart of the film, which ultimately asks how far someone can go in pursuit of their creative identity.

Central to bringing that complexity to life is Callum Scott Howells, best known for his breakout role in It’s a Sin. For Jones, there was never any doubt about who should play Paget.

“He was the first person I asked… we need to fall in love with this character… and Callum has all that in spades.”

Howells’ performance is the highlight of the film, capturing both Paget’s charm and his contradictions. It’s a role that requires the audience to empathise, even when the character’s actions might push them away. A balance Jones was very aware of from the outset.

Alongside a largely Welsh ensemble, the film also features Rupert Everett in a key supporting role. A seasoned presence among a rising cast, Everett brings a quiet emotional weight to the film.

“There’s a poetry and humanity to Rupert… I think he’s given an extraordinary performance.”

The mix of established names and emerging Welsh talent was a deliberate choice for Jones, who was keen to spotlight voices and faces that don’t always get the same opportunities on screen. Filming in Anglesey, where Paget himself once lived, only added to the authenticity of the production, grounding the film’s bold visual style in a very real place.

Despite its period setting, Madfabulous feels strikingly contemporary in its themes. It broaches the idea of identity, self-expression and the courage to live authentically. That makes its premiere at BFI Flare all the more fitting, with the festival providing a platform for stories that challenge convention and celebrate individuality.

Jones is clearly thrilled with the response so far, describing the film as something that can operate on multiple levels for audiences.

“It’s a crowd pleaser, but at the same time… the deep thoughts and feelings and messages in there… it’s for as many people as possible.”

That accessibility is key to what makes Madfabulous work. Beneath the lavish costumes and larger-than-life storytelling is a film that invites audiences in, rather than keeping them at a distance. It’s about connection as much as it is about spectacle.

For Jones, bringing Henry Paget’s story to the screen isn’t just about revisiting the past—it’s about reclaiming a figure who feels ahead of his time. In a world still grappling with ideas of identity and acceptance, Madfabulous offers a reminder that there have always been those willing to live boldly, regardless of the consequences.

And if early reactions are anything to go by, Paget’s story, ike the man himself, is finally getting the audience it deserves.

Madfabulous Will Have Its World Premiere at BFI FLARE On March 25th