Cast and crew members from the new boxing crime drama Salvable have chosen a permanent way to remember their time filming in the Vale of Glamorgan — by getting tattoos at a local Barry tattoo parlour.
Salvable, which stars Transformers actor Shia LaBeouf and was filmed across South Wales in 2023, has recently been released. Among those embracing the town spirit was actor Michael Socha, who, along with other cast and crew, took up the offer of a free tattoo from a Barry-based artist.
Shia LaBeouf, however, passed on the opportunity. He explained that he is saving what little space remains on his tattoo-covered body for future artwork based on his daughter’s drawings.
The film follows in the footsteps of other high-profile productions in the area, including Netflix’s Havoc, starring Tom Hardy, and BBC’s beloved series Gavin and Stacey.
In Salvable, Planet of the Apes star Toby Kebbell plays a troubled boxer trying to overcome his past, while LaBeouf portrays a longtime friend and negative influence. The storyline explores the protagonist’s desire to break free from his small-town roots and repair his strained relationship with his teenage daughter.
The film showcases the gritty beauty of Barry and nearby Penarth, with intense boxing scenes on Barry’s port, bleak backstreets, and moody shots of Penarth pier’s tides. The drama, co-directed by Bjorn Franklin and Johnny Marchetta, also features Highlander actor James Cosmo and rising star Kíla Lord Cassidy.
During production in Barry and Penarth in 2024, LaBeouf was often seen interacting with locals and posing for selfies. But while many residents caught a glimpse of the Hollywood actor, it was local tattooist Bianca Oliveira who spent more time with the behind-the-scenes crew.
Oliveira, 28, owns the Tattorana tattoo parlour in Barry. When her partner Luke heard about a film shoot near their shop, she decided to offer the team complimentary tattoos.
“At first, they laughed it off,” Bianca said. “But the next day, several of them came back ready to get inked.”
Those who took her up on the offer included both directors, the costume designer, and actor Michael Socha — best known for his role in This Is England. The crew even moved filming to a side street beside Bianca’s studio and used her shop as a base throughout the day, which allowed her to work around their filming schedule.
Although LaBeouf didn’t get a tattoo, he spent time at the parlour and watched Bianca work. “He was just walking around while I tattooed,” she recalled. “I was nervous at first, but then I went into work mode. By the end of the day, they felt like regular clients.”
Bianca described the experience of tattooing Socha, who chose the word “rebel” on his ribs, as surreal. “I grew up watching This Is England — it was unbelievable to tattoo someone from that.”
The crew fully embraced their Barry experience, even grabbing fish and chips from local favourite Fryer Tuck. As a quirky memento, they kept a Diet Coke can LaBeouf drank from while walking along Barry high street.
The unexpected celebrity encounter has since made Bianca and her shop minor local celebrities. “People recognise me now from the newspaper,” she said. “I like Barry — for a small town, it’s pretty big.”
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