Sarandon searches for Welsh roots

The Thelma and Louise star joined long-lost Welsh relatives at the Llynfi Arms in Tondu, near Bridgend, for a Guinness.

The actress is tracing her family tree for a BBC programme, and was in the area to trace relatives of her great-great-grandfather.

Pub landlord Terry Griffiths described her as "lovely" and "very relaxed".

Sarandon brought members of her own family to meet three descendants of her great-great-grandfather John Charles Guyatt, who died in 1876.

Her links to south Wales were found through research for the BBC series Coming Home, which traces family trees.

Mr Griffiths said: "Three living relatives were eventually traced to Bridgend and they almost didn't turn up to the pub to meet Susan Sarandon because they thought it was a wind-up.

"Susan came with her son, three sisters and two brothers and they were here for a good few hours.

"She was a really lovely lady and was very relaxed. The locals thought she was brilliant.

"She was casually dressed and so relaxed that nobody was really in awe of her.

"We were told before she turned up that she didn't drink, didn't smoke and wouldn't want her photograph taken but when she came in it was completely the opposite.

"She drank some Guinness and was rolling her own cigarettes."

Following the visit, Sarandon flew to Italy to meet more relatives found through the programme.

However she promised to come back to watch rugby at the pub when she had more time.

"They want to come back because it was all a bit rushed for them," said Mr Griffiths.

"They promised to visit when the Six Nations rugby matches are on next year because they really wanted to have one day where they could be themselves."