Ruth Jones - Nessa Jenkins 'Gavin and Stacey' signed picture

Vanessa Shanessa "Nessa" Smith (née Jenkins) (Ruth Jones) – Nessa is Stacey's best friend, also from Barry.

She discovers she is pregnant in the fourth episode of Series 1 and it is later revealed that Smithy is the father following the second time they were intimate at Pam and Mick's house.

She speaks fluent Italian and Welsh, has several tattoos, most notably a large red dragon on her right upper arm. She is a chain smoker (except during her pregnancy) and was one of the original members of All Saints (but didn't get along with Shaznay).

She works at the Barry Island Amusement Arcades or "The Slots". Nessa regularly recalls strange and often lewd experiences with celebrities.

She gives birth to baby Neil in the finale of Series 2 and becomes engaged to Dave Coaches in the 2008 Christmas special.

In the series finale, Smithy declares his feelings for Nessa at her wedding, and Dave accepts that Nessa never really loved him, always replying "I Know" when he told her he loved her, and that he was the father figure that Smithy will now be.

Nessa's age is unknown throughout the show until the 2019 Christmas Special when it is implied that she is 55 years old.

Her catchphrases include "Ohhhh", "Tidy", "Genuine", "Truth be told", "Immense", "I'm not gonna to lie to you", "What's occurring?" and on occasion "What's Appertaining?" In the third series, it was discovered that she is an Aston Villa fan.

She has jet black bob-style hair and wears Gothic style make up. She is serious, outgoing, and surprisingly intelligent at times. She has had a number of interesting occupations including being a BBC radio producer, a roadie for "The Who", and driving trucks for Eddie Stobart (who gave her two trucks to keep when she left,) and a running feature of the programme is her wide range of impressive occupations, abilities (apart from speaking fluent Italian she is an excellent ten pin bowler) and acquaintance or relationships with various famous people.

In the 2019 Christmas Special it appears Nessa's life has continued in much the same way throughout the 2010s as it did during the original series' while bringing up her son.

She proposes to Smithy at the end of the episode. However, it is revealed in the 2024 special that Nessa was left hanging and Smithy proposed to his girlfriend Sonia.

Five years after the proposal, Nessa decides to leave Barry Island as she can't deal with Smithy getting married. However, Smithy calls off his wedding to Sonia after realising he loves Nessa and she is approached by him and their friends as she is about to leave.

Smithy proposes to Nessa who accepts and they are married.

This framed white card has been signed by Ruth Jones and comes with our COA.