Callum Scott Howells
{{Short description|Welsh actor}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Callum Scott Howells
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Callum Scott Howells
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1999|04|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
| othername = Callum Howells
| alma_mater = Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
| occupation = Actor
| yearsactive = 2011–present
}}
Callum Scott Howells (born 29 April 1999) is a Welsh actor and singer. He is best known for portraying Colin Morris-Jones on the Channel 4 drama It's a Sin (2021).
Early life and education
Howells was born in Pontypridd to parents Alison and Keith and grew up nearby in Tonyrefail and Porth.{{cite news| url=https://caerphilly.observer/news/417774/caerphilly-youngster-to-appear-in-musical-oliver-at-wales-millennium-centre/| title=Caerphilly youngster to appear in musical Oliver! at Wales Millennium Centre| journal=Caerphilly Observer| first=Richard| last=Gurner| date=6 December 2011| access-date=6 March 2021}} His grandfather, Bryn Howells, was a life member of the Treorchy Male Choir.{{cite news| url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/arts-culture-news/rising-rhondda-stars-join-treorchy-10097648| title=Rising Rhondda stars to join Treorchy Male Choir for annual concert| journal=Wales Online| first=Sam| last=Tegeltija| date=21 September 2015| access-date=3 February 2021}}
Callum attended Treorchy Comprehensive School, where he was Head Boy. He took classes with Rhondda Stage School, Superstars in the Making in Barry, and was a member of the National Youth Music Theatre. He was scouted by an agent when he was 16 and went on to train at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, graduating in 2020.{{cite journal| url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/features/its-a-sin-callum-scott-howells-colin-aids-b1792268.html| title=It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells: 'People deny that Covid-19 is real? My grandparents are dead from it'| newspaper=The Independent| location=London| first=Ellie| last=Harrison| date=27 January 2021| access-date=2 February 2021}}{{cite web| url=https://www.rwcmd.ac.uk/acting/2020/callum-scott-howells| title=Callum Scott Howells| website=Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama| access-date=6 March 2021}}
Career
=Early work (2011–2019)=
Howells made his debut in a regional production of Oliver!{{cite journal| url=https://www.vingtseptmagazine.com/post/its-a-sin-callum-scott-howells-speaks-on-the-show-s-importance-even-in-2021| title=It's a Sin: Callum Scott Howells speaks on the show's importance even in 2021| journal=Vingt Sept| first=Leigh| last=Dacasin| date=24 February 2021| access-date=6 March 2021}} He was a founding member of the boys' choir Only Boys Aloud, performing with them on series 6 of Britain's Got Talent in 2012 and later for Prince Harry and Meghan in 2018.{{cite web| url=https://www.aloud.cymru/boys/blog/2018/02/08/oba-meet-royalty/| title=OBA meet royalty!| website=Aloud| date=January 2018| access-date=3 February 2021}} He has since become a youth ambassador.{{cite web| url=https://twitter.com/thealoudcharity/status/1352690017521569798| title=Are you watching #ItsASin tonight? It's featuring one of our brilliant, long-standing members of @onlyboysaloud @callumshowells! Callum was a founding member of OBA and even joined us on #BritainsGotTalent. He is now our youth ambassador and we can't wait to watch him tonight!| author=Aloud| via=Twitter| date=22 January 2021| access-date=3 February 2021}}{{Primary source inline|date=October 2024}}
He appeared in series 2 of the CBBC reality documentary series Show Me What You're Made Of. He was 13 at the time.{{cite news| url=https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/local-news/callum-faces-up-harsh-reality-2642955| title=Callum faces up to harsh reality in Asia| newspaper=Daily Post| location=Colwyn Bay| date=6 December 2012| access-date=3 February 2021}} He later returned as a guest presenter. He worked as a Royal Correspondent on the CBBC series Blue Peter.{{cite web| url=https://www.loudapplauserisingstars.co.uk/?us_portfolio=callum-howells&| title=Callum Howells| website=Loud Applause Rising Stars| access-date=6 March 2021}}
Howells won the 2013 Star of the Stage talent show. In 2014 he played Godfrey in Matthew Bourne's New Adventures production of Lord of the Flies at the Wales Millennium Centre.{{cite news| url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/young-star-callum-boy-lands-7893269| title=Young star Callum lands role in Lord of the Flies|journal=Wales Online|first=Carrie|last=Evans|date=7 October 2014|access-date=3 February 2021}} He performed with Treorchy Male Choir in 2015, Pendyrus Male Choir in 2017, and Dunvant Male Choir in 2018.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.walesonline.co.uk/lifestyle/tv/who-callum-howells-shine-12521750|title=Who is Callum Howells from Let It Shine?|journal=Wales Online|first=Lorna|last=Doran|date=28 January 2017|access-date=3 February 2021}}{{cite news| url=https://www.penarthtimes.co.uk/news/11817820.treorchy-male-choir-hits-the-high-notes-for-ty-hafan/| title=Treorchy Male Choir hits the high notes for Ty Hafan| newspaper=Penarth Times| first=Chris| last=Seal| date=25 February 2015| access-date=3 February 2021}}
When he was 17 Howells auditioned for the singing competition Let It Shine with the song "You'll Be Back" from Hamilton.{{cite journal| url=https://www.digitalspy.com/tv/reality-tv/a820034/let-it-shine-callum-howells-hamilton-musical-audition/| title=Broadway hit Hamilton hits the Saturday night TV circuit as Callum Howells impresses in Let It Shine audition| journal=Digital Spy| first=Charlotte| last=Whistlecroft| date=28 January 2017| access-date=3 February 2021}} He was part of Group 4 and made it to the final 25. However, he pulled out to make time to play Arpad Laszlo in the West End production of She Loves Me at Menier Chocolate Factory.{{cite news| url=https://metro.co.uk/2017/02/05/let-it-shine-contestant-callum-howells-quits-after-landing-role-in-west-end-show-6428738/| title=Let It Shine contestant Callum Howells quits after landing role in West End show| newspaper=Metro| location=London| first=Adam| last=Starkey| date=5 February 2017| access-date=2 February 2021}}{{cite web| url=https://www.westendtheatre.com/49631/news/casting-announced-for-menier-chocolate-factorys-she-loves-me/| title=Casting announced for Menier Chocolate Factory's She Loves Me| website=West End Theatre| date=24 October 2016| access-date=3 February 2021}}
In May 2016 he played the lead role in Blackout, a production in the nationwide "Connections" programme of the National Theatre. The first public review of his acting was headed "Actor to Watch" and read "Callum Scott Howells delivers a performance of ferocious impact."{{cite web| website=Theatre-Wales| date=11 May 2016| title=Actor to Watch| url=http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/reviews/reviews_details.asp?reviewID=3524}}
In March 2019 he appeared at the Other Room Theatre in Cardiff in CRAVE by Sarah Kane.{{cite web | last=Read | first=8 Minute | title=Review: Crave | website=Nation.Cymru | date=10 May 2019 | url=https://nation.cymru/culture/review-crave/ | access-date=22 July 2024}}
=Breakthrough (2021–present)=
In October 2019 it was announced Howells would star in Russell T Davies' miniseries It's a Sin as Colin Morris-Jones. The character is loosely based on a real-life past boyfriend of Davies.{{cite news| url=https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/television/its-a-sin-star-callum-scott-howells-aids-killed-millions-yet-we-never-learnt-about-it-in-school/b40024301.html| title=It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells: Aids killed millions, yet we never learnt about it in school| newspaper=Irish Independent| location=Dublin| first=Tim| last=Robey| date=29 January 2021| access-date=2 February 2021}} The series premiered in January 2021 on Channel 4 and February on HBO Max. For his performance, Howells was nominated for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor.
From 3 October 2022, Howells played The Emcee in the West End production of Cabaret at the Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre. On New Year's Eve 2022 he appeared in a vignette from the show on BBC 1's The Graham Norton Show.{{cite web| url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m001gpwv| website=BBC One| title=The Graham Norton Show, Series 30, New Year's Eve Show| date=31 December 2022| access-date=18 June 2023}}
Howells had been cast to play in Gary Owen's play Romeo and Julie for the Royal National Theatre in 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, however, the co-production with the Sherman Theatre was postponed and instead opened at the Dorfman Theatre in February 2023.{{cite journal| last=Warner| first=Solly| date=22 January 2021| title=Callum Scott Howells: The Welsh Breakout Star| url=https://notion.online/callum-scott-howells-the-welsh-breakout-star/| journal=Notion| access-date=6 March 2021}}{{cite web| title=Romeo and Julie| publisher=Royal National Theatre| url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/shows/romeo-and-julie| access-date=1 November 2022}} The Times described Howell in the Romeo role as: "an entertaining, unsentimental, smartly judged performance."{{cite web| website=Theatre Wales| date=9 March 2023| title=London Critics Return to Splott with Acclaim| url=http://www.theatre-wales.co.uk/reviews/reviews_details.asp?reviewID=5162}}
In May 2023 it was announced that Howells had been cast as the Frankie Goes to Hollywood singer Holly Johnson in a biographical film Relax,{{cite news| last=Wiseman| first=Andreas| date=10 May 2023| title=Frankie Goes To Hollywood Biopic 'Relax' In The Works With 'It's A Sin' Star Callum Scott Howells, Working Title & Independent Entertainment — Cannes Market| url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/frankie-goes-hollywood-relax-movie-its-sin-callum-scott-howells-working-title-cannes-1235360208/| access-date=20 May 2023| website=Deadline Hollywood| language=en-US}} and in Michael Sheen's series The Way for BBC One.{{cite news| url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/bbc-the-way-luke-evans-callum-scott-howells-michael-sheen-james-graham-1235366672/| website=Deadline Hollywood| date=15 May 2023| accessdate=15 May 2023| title='The Way': Luke Evans & Callum Scott Howells Cast In BBC Drama From Michael Sheen, James Graham & Adam Curtis| first1=Max| last1=Goldbart| first2=Jesse| last2=Whittock}}
In May 2024, it was announced that he had been cast in the lead role in Madfabulous, a biopic movie based on the life of the flamboyant British aristocrat Henry Paget, 5th Marquess of Anglesey.{{Cite web |last=Hudson |first=David |title='It's A Sin' star Callum Scott Howells lands role in biopic about flamboyant British aristocrat |url=https://www.queerty.com/its-a-sin-star-callum-scott-howells-lands-role-in-biopic-about-flamboyant-british-aristocrat-20240529 |access-date=12 June 2024 |website=Queerty}}
Personal life
Howells identifies as queer.{{cite news| url=https://www.pinknews.co.uk/2021/01/22/its-a-sin-callum-scott-howells-gay-sex-hiv-queer-russell-t-davies-interview/| title=It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells on queerness, HIV and why gay sex scenes are just another day on the job| journal=PinkNews| first=Darren| last=Scott| date=22 January 2021| accessdate=2 February 2021}} In 2021, he voiced his support for Welsh independence,{{cite news| url=https://www.itv.com/news/wales/2021-03-03/its-a-sins-callum-scott-howells-rising-to-fame-welsh-independence-and-his-love-of-cardiff-city| title=It's A Sin's Callum Scott Howells: Rising to fame, Welsh independence and his love of Cardiff City| website=ITV News| date=4 March 2021| accessdate=6 March 2021}} but in 2023 clarified his position, saying "I'm more in the curious category than being absolutely for it." He was critical of the Westminster government and its relationship with Wales, but acknowledged that independence was "really far away from happening".{{cite news| url=https://inews.co.uk/culture/callum-scott-howells-upset-wales-treated-independence-2201032| title=Callum Scott Howells: 'I'm very upset about how Wales has been treated'| newspaper=i| url-access=subscription| first=Alim| last=Kheraj| date=15 March 2023| accessdate=6 June 2023}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2012
| As himself | |
| 2017
| Contestant | |
| 2021
| Colin Morris-Jones | |
| 2024
| The Way | Owen Driscoll | Lead role |
| 2024
| Nathan | |
| TBA
|Relax | |
| TBA |
Stage
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! class="unsortable" | Notes |
|---|
| 2011–2012
| Oliver! | Ensemble | Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff; UK tour |
| 2014
| Lord of the Flies | Godfrey | Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff |
| 2015
| Prodigy | Dan Davies | St James Theatre, London |
| 2016
| Blackout | James | Aberystwyth Arts Centre, Aberystwyth |
| 2016
| Brass | George | Hackney Empire, London |
| 2016–2017
| Arpad Laszlo | Menier Chocolate Factory, London |
| 2017
| Tickledom | Basil | Welsh tour |
| 2019
| CRAVE | A | The Other Room, Cardiff |
| 2022
|The Emcee |Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre |
| 2023
| Romeo and Julie | Romeo | Dorfman Theatre, London and Sherman Theatre, Cardiff |
| 2025
|Ghosts |Oz |Lyric Hammersmith, London |
Awards and nominations
Notes
{{notelist}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|11142674}}
{{RTS Programme Award for Best Performance by a Male Actor}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, Callum Scott}}
Category:21st-century Welsh LGBTQ people
Category:21st-century Welsh male actors
Category:Alumni of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Category:People educated at Treorchy Comprehensive School
Category:Actors from Pontypridd
Category:People from Tonyrefail
Category:Welsh male child actors
Category:Welsh male musical theatre actors
Category:Welsh male stage actors