Ruth Jones' Gavin & Stacey alter ego, Nessa Jenkins, will long go down in history as one of the best comedic roles, like ever. Not only are her one-liners highly quotable (read: "what's occurring?" but her visual aesthetic is also a trademark. I'm talking, her Welsh dragon tattoo, oversized hoop earrings and most notably, thee black bob haircut.
Naturally, this iconic aesthetic quietly disappeared with the show's end (Nessa, gone but never forgotten), but in its place comes something new. Enter: a fully grey tucked bob. All is not lost in the world of celebrity hair transformations!
Over the weekend, Ruth shared a three-part Instagram post commemorating her last day on set filming the new six-part BBC comedy series, Better Later, with actor Steve Speirs."Our final slate and our final day. It’s been gorgeous. Life is Better Later ❤️," the actor wrote in the caption.
Now, as sweet as this post is, it wasn't the celebration that had us audibly gasping, but Ruth's shocking hair transformation. After all, it's a far departure from her signature brunette tresses.
To really gauge how significant a style this is, let's take a look at the actor's hair before:
And now, behold the grey bob in question:
BRB, just picking my jaw up off the floor...
Among the praise for the acting duo, fans left comments admiring Ruth's new look. Read a select few of our favourites below:
"YOUR HAIR 😍"
"Ruth can I just say wow to the hair and how fab you look - it’s the way you shine. I loves it."
"I LOVE the hair!! X"
"You look great in grey 🩶"
"Looking fabulous Ruth. Looking forward to seeing this x"
"Great hair. You look fab."
And we couldn't agree more. Ruth, you look tidy! No notes, none at all.
Better Later is expected to air on BBC One and BBC iPlayer later this year.
Follow Lia on Instagram.
Lia Mappoura (she/her) is the Beauty Writer at Cosmopolitan UK, with over four years of experience reporting across the brand's print, social, video and digital platforms. Lia covers everything from emerging trend analysis to viral celebrity hair and makeup moments, making her an expert at spotting the season’s next big beauty look (before it takes over social media feeds).
In 2025, she was named The Rising Media Star at the Love Perfume Awards with The Perfume Shop, recognised for her outstanding digital fragrance content and for building genuine authority within the space. She is passionate about challenging outdated beauty stereotypes, championing inclusive representation in beauty, and educating readers on the trends, products and conversations shaping the industry today. Follow her on Instagram or find her on LinkedIn.
