Maxine Hughes: In her own words

Maxine Hughes is a Welsh journalist and television presenter based in Washington DC.

Originally from Conwy in North Wales, Maxine competed in judo and acrobatics for Wales. At 17 years old, she was awarded a university football scholarship to the United States. Later returning to Wales where she worked on the BBC programme, Doctor Who Confidential, before becoming a news editor for Türkiye's TRT World channel and journalist for BBC Wales and S4C.

More recently, she was chosen as the Welsh translator for Hollywood actors, Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney. As shown in the Disney+ heartfelt docu-series, Welcome to Wrexham chronicling the stars’ takeover of Wrexham AFC.

In late 2024 Maxine, mother to two boys, discovered a lump and was diagnosed with triple-negative breast cancer.

Passionate about Welsh culture and the language, Maxine delayed her surgery by a week, after intensive rounds of chemotherapy, to travel over from the US to the 2025 National Eisteddfod in held in Wrexham. Where she was inducted into the Gorsedd as Leader of Wales and the World.
We caught up with Maxine to ask her some questions, while she took part in Tenovus on the Thames fundraising event during Wales Week London 2026.

From a sports scholarship, to working in television and journalism? Can you share how you went from this to becoming a Welsh international journalist?

I think I've probably always been a journalist, even before I became a journalist. I have always been nosey, interested in the world around me, and I love a good story. I completed a Masters in Broadcast Journalism at City University and began working.

When the Covid-19 pandemic hit, I was already based in the US, splitting my time between Los Angeles and Washington DC. It was difficult for journalists to travel to the US during that time, so I ended up doing a huge amount of broadcasting and I built a broadcasting career from there.

The US is an interesting place politically and socially so there is always interest in what is happening there. For me, broadcasting in Welsh has not only been the highlight of my career, but something that is deeply important to me. I strongly believe that we have huge journalistic talent in Wales, in fact some of the best journalists I have worked with are part of the Welsh speaking media. They push hard and strive to deliver original content that I believe rivals the English language media. I truly believe that we should be breaking headlines in Welsh and competing against the rest of the world’s journalists.

How did you become a Welsh translator to RR and RE during the Welcome to Wrexham programme?

A Hollywood casting call went out for a Welsh speaker and at first I thought it was a joke! Many of the Welsh diaspora in America sent me the casting call, wondering if I knew anything about it. 
Eventually I called the number and found out that it was indeed serious. I was told that they had lots of Welsh speakers who were applying, but that none of them had any broadcast or acting experience and I was asked to try out for the role.

It was during Covid, so the initial casting was done as a video. I had to record a script and my friend, Ediz filmed it and played the other part - he was very excited as he recognised that RR meant Ryan Reynolds (and had a crush on him!) so told me that I “simply must try out.” It's really thanks to Ediz that I got the role, he made me rehearse and shot a fantastic casting video!

Can you share a fun fact or two about your time working with them during Welcome to Wrexham?

The first time on set with Rob, Ryan and me was actually also the first time the two guys had met each other., There were a lot of nerves on set and it was really exciting. What I noticed straight away, was how much the two of them had learned about Wales.

Rob actually sung the Welsh National Anthem in its entirely that first day on set! It was then that I knew that these guys were the real deal and that they were truly invested in Wales.

How difficult has it been finding a balance between being able to rest during treatment and continuing to travel for work?

I worked for BBC News for many years and it required constant travel. I found it a lot of fun until I had kids and then it became difficult.  I still do a lot of travel and it is definitely tough. Both my sons are elite athletes and practice their sports every day and have rigorous competition schedules.

I attribute the successful balance of home and work life to having a wife who is possibly the best co-parent on the planet. I have never been great at resting, but cancer kind of gave me a crash course in that. I have been forced to rest and listen to my body, and I'm also finding that post-chemotherapy, my body just doesn't work in the same way and that I must build in rest when I need it.

I think ultimately it's about listening to your body and for me, forcing myself to rest sometimes.

Tenovus Cancer Care is very much centred around connecting and supporting people within the community. How important is community to you and have you found your tribe in Washington DC?

The support I have had during cancer was honestly just incredible. I felt like the whole of Wales was behind me. I remember a Welsh friend in LA telling me 'if there is anything you need, let me know'. I did feel that the offer of help from people in Wales and the Welsh diaspora in America has always been on another level. I knew that if I needed anything, I truly could ask my friend Rhinallt in LA, and that it wasn't just a nicety.

My son, Lori has been at the same swim team since he was six years old and I definitely found the 'swim moms' to be incredibly supportive. Some of them even travelled out to Wales to be with me at the Eisteddfod. I've always felt that sport can unite and bind people, and that was definitely the experience I had during cancer. Many friends and family members came to visit during my treatment, and the close friends I have met during the Welcome to Wrexham experience proved vital.

Finally, I would say that the gay community in the DMV region is strong and I do feel that I gained a lot of support there too. I feel so blessed at the outpouring of support I received, it was incredible.

As a mother of two boys, how did you break the news to them?

To be honest, I didn't really 'break' the news to them. I played the cancer down a lot as I didn't want them to get worried. My aim was to keep life as ‘normal' as possible, so I'm not sure how aware the kids even are that I had cancer.

I feel that everyone deals with cancer in their own way, but for me, it was very much part of normalising the process and trying to continue to seem like my usual self in front of my boys where I could. I didn't ever show them my bald head and I didn't ever talk about being very ill in front of them. I never wanted them to worry. So for me, by behaving like my usual self, it helped me fight to be able to be my normal self. Though as I said, I think everyone deals with cancer differently, and this was just the way I did it. 

How have you navigated parenting during your cancer treatment?

I went into overdrive.

Both my kids do competitive sport to a very high level, so after my diagnosis I went all out, going to all their practices, being the ultimate ‘sports mom' and taking them to all their competitions.

Some people might think I'm crazy for doing that, but it was my way of coping and it helped me tremendously.

Have you shared your S4C documentary about your cancer journey with them?

Like all my S4C films, my sons have a cameo in my cancer documentary. They were very aware that we were filming things and at this stage, they are pretty relaxed around TV cameras. My youngest son, Manu is particularly camera-friendly and enjoyed taking part when he could.

I want to show them the value of journalism and why it is important to others to tell your own story.

Based on your own experience, what advice might you pass on to any parent having to tell their children following a cancer diagnosis?

I don't think it's my place to give advice. I think everyone has their own feelings, reactions and ways of coping. I think what is so important with cancer is that there isn't a one size fits all, and that is ok.

Cancer is such a life changing experience, I think that it is vital that each individual deals with it in their unique way.