Callum Scott Howells
Born
Callum Scott Howells

(1999-04-29) 29 April 1999
Pontypridd, Rhondda Cynon Taf, Wales
Other namesCallum Howells
Alma materRoyal Welsh College of Music & Drama
OccupationActor
Years active2011–present

Callum Scott Howells (born 29 April 1999) is a Welsh actor, singer, and talent show contestant who began his career as a child. He is known for his role as Colin Morris-Jones in 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.[1] His grandfather, Bryn Howells, was a life member of the Treorchy Male Choir.[2]

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.[3] 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.[4][5]

Career

Early work (2011–2019)

Howells made his debut in a regional production of Oliver![6] 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.[7] He has since become a youth ambassador.[8]

He appeared in series 2 of the CBBC reality documentary series Show Me What You're Made Of. He was 13 at the time.[9] He later returned as a guest presenter. He worked as a Royal Correspondent on the CBBC series Blue Peter.[10]

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.[11] He performed with Treorchy Male Choir in 2015, Pendyrus Male Choir in 2017, and Dunvant Male Choir in 2018.[3][12]

When he was 17, Howells auditioned for the singing competition Let It Shine with the song "You'll Be Back" from Hamilton.[13] 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.[14][15]

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.”[16]

In March 2019, he appeared at the Other Room Theatre in Cardiff in CRAVE by Sarah Kane.

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.[17] 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.[18]

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.[19][20] The Times described Howell in the Romeo role as: "an entertaining, unsentimental, smartly judged performance."[21]

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,[22] and in Michael Sheen's series The Way for BBC One.[23]

Personal life

Howells identifies as queer.[24][4] In 2021, he voiced his support for Welsh independence.[25] However in 2023, he clarified his position, stating "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 is "really far away from happening".[26]

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
2012 Show Me What You're Made Of As himself
2017 Let It Shine Contestant
2021 It's a Sin Colin Morris-Jones
TBA The Beautiful Game Nathan
TBA Relax Holly Johnson

Stage

Year Title Role 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 She Loves Me Arpad Laszlo Menier Chocolate Factory, London
2017 Tickledom Basil Welsh tour
2019 CRAVE A The Other Room, Cardiff
2022 Cabaret The Emcee Kit Kat Club at the Playhouse Theatre
2023 Romeo and Julie Romeo Dorfman Theatre, London and Sherman Theatre, Cardiff

Awards and nominations

Year Awards Category Work Result Ref
2021 BAFTA Cymru Actor It's a Sin Won [27]
2022 BPG Awards Best Actor Nominated [28]
Breakthrough Award[lower-alpha 1] Nominated
RTS Programme Awards Actor (Male) Won [29]
Breakthrough Award Nominated
British Academy Television Awards Best Supporting Actor Nominated [30]

Notes

  1. ↑ Shared.

References

  1. ↑ Gurner, Richard (6 December 2011). "Caerphilly youngster to appear in musical Oliver! at Wales Millennium Centre". Caerphilly Observer. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  2. ↑ Tegeltija, Sam (21 September 2015). "Rising Rhondda stars to join Treorchy Male Choir for annual concert". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  3. 1 2 Doran, Lorna (28 January 2017). "Who is Callum Howells from Let It Shine?". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  4. 1 2 Harrison, Ellie (27 January 2021). "It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells: 'People deny that Covid-19 is real? My grandparents are dead from it'". The Independent. London. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  5. ↑ "Callum Scott Howells". Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  6. ↑ Dacasin, Leigh (24 February 2021). "It's a Sin: Callum Scott Howells speaks on the show's importance even in 2021". Vingt Sept. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  7. ↑ "OBA meet royalty!". Aloud. January 2018. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  8. ↑ Aloud (22 January 2021). "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!". Retrieved 3 February 2021 – via Twitter.
  9. ↑ "Callum faces up to harsh reality in Asia". Daily Post. Colwyn Bay. 6 December 2012. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  10. ↑ "Callum Howells". Loud Applause Rising Stars. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  11. ↑ Evans, Carrie (7 October 2014). "Young star Callum lands role in Lord of the Flies". Wales Online. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  12. ↑ Seal, Chris (25 February 2015). "Treorchy Male Choir hits the high notes for Ty Hafan". Penarth Times. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  13. ↑ Whistlecroft, Charlotte (28 January 2017). "Broadway hit Hamilton hits the Saturday night TV circuit as Callum Howells impresses in Let It Shine audition". Digital Spy. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  14. ↑ Starkey, Adam (5 February 2017). "Let It Shine contestant Callum Howells quits after landing role in West End show". Metro. London. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  15. ↑ "Casting announced for Menier Chocolate Factory's She Loves Me". West End Theatre. 24 October 2016. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  16. ↑ "Actor to Watch". Theatre-Wales. 11 May 2016.
  17. ↑ Robey, Tim (29 January 2021). "It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells: Aids killed millions, yet we never learnt about it in school". Irish Independent. Dublin. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. ↑ "The Graham Norton Show, Series 30, New Year's Eve Show". BBC One. 31 December 2022. Retrieved 18 June 2023.
  19. ↑ Warner, Solly (22 January 2021). "Callum Scott Howells: The Welsh Breakout Star". Notion. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  20. ↑ "Romeo and Julie". National Theatre. Retrieved 1 November 2022.
  21. ↑ "London Critics Return to Splott with Acclaim". Theatre Wales. 9 March 2023.
  22. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (10 May 2023). "Frankie Goes To Hollywood Biopic 'Relax' In The Works With 'It's A Sin' Star Callum Scott Howells, Working Title & Independent Entertainment — Cannes Market". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 20 May 2023.
  23. ↑ Goldbart, Max; Whittock, Jesse (15 May 2023). "'The Way': Luke Evans & Callum Scott Howells Cast In BBC Drama From Michael Sheen, James Graham & Adam Curtis". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  24. ↑ Scott, Darren (22 January 2021). "It's a Sin star Callum Scott Howells on queerness, HIV and why gay sex scenes are just another day on the job". PinkNews. Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  25. ↑ "It's A Sin's Callum Scott Howells: Rising to fame, Welsh independence and his love of Cardiff City". ITV News. 4 March 2021. Retrieved 6 March 2021.
  26. ↑ Kheraj, Alim (15 March 2023). "Callum Scott Howells: 'I'm very upset about how Wales has been treated'". i. Retrieved 6 June 2023.
  27. ↑ "Nominations Announced for the 30th British Academy Cymru Awards". British Academy of Film and Television Arts. 7 September 2021. Retrieved 9 September 2021.
  28. ↑ Douglas, Torin (12 March 2022). "BPG Awards 2022: Television And Streaming Nominations". Broadcasting Press Guild.
  29. ↑ "RTS Programme Awards 2022". Royal Television Society. 21 October 2021.
  30. ↑ Ritman, Alex (30 March 2022). "BAFTA TV Awards: Russell T. Davies' 'It's a Sin' Dominates Nominations". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
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