He has shot to stardom thanks to his role in BBC hit Happy Valley.
Yet as Rhys Connah mingled with the A-list on Saturday night at the BRIT Awards, he humbly admitted he ‘had no idea who most of them were’.
The actor, 16, who plays Ryan Cawood in the drama series, even shunned the fancy dinner laid out for celebrities in favour of a modest cone of chips and a cup of tea.
After leaving his desert untouched, Rhys told MailOnline: ‘I don’t really like all this fancy food. I’m just happy with my chips and a cup of tea.’
When asked if he was nervous about presenting, the down to earth star, said: ‘Not really. The problem is I don’t really know who most people are!’
Bless! As Rhys Connah mingled with the A-list on Saturday night at the BRIT Awards, he humbly admitted he ‘had no idea who most of them were’ and shunned the fancy food (pictured)
During the ceremony held at London’s O2 Arena, Rhys presented the award for Best International Artist alongside model Georgia May Jagger.
The award was won by Beyonce, who was not in attendance on the night but she did send a message of thanks to the BRIT Awards and her fans.
Following his presenting duties, Rhys kicked back and watched the rest of the show with his chips and tea.
Rhys has been at the centre of a heart-stopping storyline involving his on-screen dad Tommy Lee Royce for the past six weeks, which concluded last Sunday.
However it seems that his newfound attention hasn’t changed his roots as he spoke of his disgust over the fancy offerings at the ceremony.
Earlier this week, Rhys reflected on his time on the hit show, after growing up on screen.
He said that he used to be the ‘coolest kid in school’ thanks to being able to swear on set while filming scenes.
He first started on the show at the age of eight and has played character Ryan in all three seasons of the BBC drama.
Presenting duties: During the ceremony held at London’s O2 Arena, Rhys presented the award for Best International Artist alongside model Georgia May Jagger
Down to earth: Following his presenting duties, Rhys kicked back and watched the rest of the show with his chips and tea
Speaking to the BBC, he said: ‘I was the coolest kid in school because I got to walk in like, ”Guess what, I got to swear and no-one could shout at me, no-one could say anything.” I got to swear loads all day.’
Looking back at his earlier scenes, he called himself ‘annoying’ on screen.
‘But watching it now, I’m just some tiny, little, annoying guy who does everything wrong, messes it all up and with a squeaky voice. I’m just watching it like ”was I always that annoying?”
In the show, he plays Ryan, the son of villain Tommy Lee Royce, played by James Norton.
Reflecting: Happy Valley star Rhys Connah has revealed why he was the ‘coolest kid in school’ thanks to his role on the show – after the final episode shocked fans
After he escaped court and broke into Catherine’s house in a bid to kill her, Tommy (James Norton) lay in wait until the officer returned home.
And fans were left screaming ‘oh my f**king God’ as the villain attempted to end his own life after telling Catherine (Sarah Lancashire) that he forgave her for keeping the news he had a son from him.
The two characters had a tense confrontation as they came face-to-face for the final time, with Tommy realising he’d reached the end of the road when he’d come to the conclusion his son Ryan was happier living with her.
As things came to a head, the escaped convict realised he had nowhere left to turn and set himself alight – before Catherine rushed to put out the flames with a blanket.
However, instead of watching him burn, Catherine covered him in a blanket and put out the flames shortly before the police arrived – before it was later revealed that Tommy was alive and in hospital.
He grew up on screen! He first started on the show at the age of eight and has played character Ryan in all three seasons of the BBC drama
Speaking to the BBC , he said: ‘I was the coolest kid in school because I got to walk in like, ”Guess what, I got to swear and no-one could shout at me, no-one could say anything.” I got to swear loads all day’
Taking to Twitter, fans were quick to share their reaction to the nerve-wracking climax to Catherine and Tommy’s feud.
‘OH MY F**KING GOD’ shouted one watcher, with another remarking: ‘Well, I bet NOBODY expected that!’
‘I’m wrecked’, commented a third, with a fourth observing: ‘Funking he’ll, he set himself alight.’
‘Jesus that was intense!’ commented a fifth watcher.
‘Don’t think anyone had THAT on their #HappyValleyFinale bingo card Good jaysus’ shared another.
Shock: Happy Valley fans were left in shock as Tommy Lee Royce set himself on fire after an epic showdown with Sgt Catherine Cawood during the final ever episode on Sunday
