Ellis Howard is an English actor and writer from Liverpool, quickly gaining recognition for a BAFTA-nominated performance in the BBC Three series What It Feels Like for a Girl. Known for a breakout role in the horror-drama Red Rose, Howard represents a rising generation of British talent moving between stage, screen, and original writing projects.
Born circa 1997, the performer trained at the prestigious Guildhall School of Music & Drama before landing early roles in major productions including HBO’s Catherine the Great and a West End run of To Kill a Mockingbird. An increasing public curiosity around Howard’s personal life, relationship status, and pronouns has not been matched by public disclosures, making the actor a subject of focused online interest.
With a BAFTA nomination secured in 2025 and several writing projects in development, Howard’s career is at a notable inflection point. The following article consolidates the verified facts available across authoritative sources.
Who Is Ellis Howard? Biography and Background
Key Insights
- Ellis Howard is a rising British actor and writer, nominated for a BAFTA Breakthrough award in 2025.
- Best known for the lead role in the BBC Three series Red Rose (2022) and the film What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025).
- Trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating in 2018 after earlier classes at Rare Studio in Liverpool.
- Represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, one of the UK’s leading talent agencies.
- Publicly available personal life details are minimal, contributing to high search curiosity around relationship status and pronouns.
- Co-writing an original TV drama with actor Toheeb Jimoh and developing an autobiographical project for Netflix.
Snapshot Facts
| Field | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Ellis Francis Howard |
| Born | c. 1997 |
| Age | 28–29 (as of 2026) |
| Place of Origin | Liverpool, England |
| Education | Guildhall School of Music & Drama (graduated 2018) |
| Occupation | Actor, Writer |
| Agent | Casarotto Ramsay & Associates |
| Notable Screen Works | Red Rose (2022), What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025) |
| Stage Debut | West End — Dill Harris in To Kill a Mockingbird (2023) |
| Awards | BAFTA Breakthrough nomination (2025) |
| Height | Not publicly listed |
| Pronouns | Listed on personal Wikipedia page |
What Is Ellis Howard Known For? Career and Filmography
Ellis Howard’s first major screen role came in 2022, playing Antony Longwell in the BBC Three horror-drama Red Rose. The series, about a group of teenagers haunted by a mysterious phone app, introduced Howard to a broad television audience and established the actor as a rising genre performer.
Prior to that, Howard had already appeared in high-profile projects. In 2019, the actor portrayed Ivan VI of Russia in the HBO miniseries Catherine the Great, a role opposite Helen Mirren. A year later, Howard appeared in the BBC production Help, written by Jack Thorne.
Breakthrough: What It Feels Like for a Girl
The year 2025 marked a significant career shift. Howard took the lead role of Bryon in What It Feels Like for a Girl, a BBC Three series based on the memoir by Paris Lees. The character is a queer adolescent navigating gender identity, and Howard’s performance earned a BAFTA Breakthrough nomination. The actor was also named to the U.S. BAFTA Breakthrough list, supported by Netflix.
The BAFTA Breakthrough initiative identifies and supports up-and-coming talent in film, television, and games. Howard’s inclusion in both the UK and U.S. lists in 2025 signals strong industry confidence in the actor’s trajectory.
Stage Work
Ellis Howard made a West End debut in 2023, playing Dill Harris in the stage adaptation of To Kill a Mockingbird at the Gielgud Theatre. The performance placed Howard alongside established stage actors in a high-profile London production.
Writing Projects
Beyond acting, Howard is developing a slate of original television projects. According to Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, the actor is co-writing an original TV drama based on Guildhall School experiences with Ted Lasso actor Toheeb Jimoh for Bad Wolf. Howard is also developing an autobiographical show for Netflix and has projects in development with Sid Gentle, the production company behind Killing Eve.
Howard secured a writing agent after posting video content on Instagram that led directly to mentorship from playwright James Graham. This pathway — from social media to professional representation — illustrates a nontraditional route into screenwriting for an actor trained in classical theatre.
Filmography Summary
- What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025) — Lead (Bryon); BAFTA nomination
- Red Rose (2022) — Antony Longwell; BBC Three horror-drama
- Catherine the Great (2019) — Ivan VI of Russia; HBO miniseries
- Help (2020) — Jack Thorne role; BBC production
- To Kill a Mockingbird (2023) — Dill Harris; West End debut
- Romeo & Juliet (2021) — Credited on IMDb
Is Ellis Howard Married or in a Relationship? Personal Life
Public information about Ellis Howard’s personal life is limited. No confirmed details regarding a partner, marriage, or relationship status appear in any of the publicly available sources, including Wikipedia, IMDb, or agency profiles.
This absence of information has driven significant online search curiosity. Terms such as “Ellis Howard partner” and “Ellis Howard relationship” rank among the most common search queries associated with the actor.
Pronouns
Ellis Howard’s Wikipedia page lists pronouns, identifying the actor as a trans/queer performer. The character Howard plays in What It Feels Like for a Girl — Bryon — is a queer adolescent navigating gender identity. Howard has spoken in interviews with Yahoo Entertainment and YMLiverpool about working-class roots and the themes of the series.
The lack of public relationship or pronoun information reflects a deliberate privacy boundary maintained by the actor. Speculation in the absence of confirmed facts should be approached with caution. No authoritative source has published details about a current partner or specific relationship status.
Ellis Howard Career Timeline
- c. 1997 — Ellis Francis Howard born in England.
- 2018 — Graduated from Guildhall School of Music & Drama, performing in final-year productions including Fiddler on the Roof.
- 2019 — Portrayed Ivan VI of Russia in HBO miniseries Catherine the Great.
- 2020 — Appeared in BBC production Help.
- 2022 — Starred as a lead in BBC Three horror-drama Red Rose.
- 2023 — West End debut as Dill Harris in To Kill a Mockingbird at the Gielgud Theatre.
- 2025 — Lead role in What It Feels Like for a Girl; nominated for BAFTA Breakthrough award and named to U.S. BAFTA Breakthrough list.
What Is Confirmed and What Remains Unclear?
| Established Information | Information That Remains Unclear |
|---|---|
| Full name is Ellis Francis Howard; born circa 1997. | Exact birth date and precise age have not been publicly confirmed. |
| Trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating in 2018. | Height is not listed in any authoritative public source. |
| Nominated for a BAFTA Breakthrough award in 2025 for What It Feels Like for a Girl. | Relationship status and partner identity are not documented in interviews or official profiles. |
| Represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates for acting and writing. | Pronouns, while listed on the actor’s Wikipedia page, are not uniformly stated across all platforms. |
What Is the Context of Ellis Howard’s Career Rise?
Ellis Howard represents a new wave of British actor-writers emerging from elite drama schools and moving quickly into prominent television and stage roles. The BAFTA Breakthrough nomination in 2025 signals industry recognition that extends beyond a single performance, positioning Howard as a talent to watch across multiple disciplines.
The combination of a major BBC series, a West End debut, and multiple writing projects in development with prominent production companies suggests a carefully managed career trajectory. The lack of public personal information, meanwhile, creates a notable contrast with high online search volume — a dynamic common among privacy-conscious public figures whose work generates more curiosity than their public profiles satisfy.
What Are the Key Sources for Information About Ellis Howard?
The following sources provide the most reliable information about Ellis Howard’s biography and career:
“Ellis Howard is an English actor. He is known for his roles in What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025), Red Rose (2022) and Catherine the Great (2019).”
“He studied acting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, graduating in 2018.”
“He is with Casarotto Ramsay & Associates.”
What Is the Summary of Ellis Howard’s Career?
Ellis Howard is a 28-year-old English actor and writer from Liverpool, trained at Guildhall School of Music & Drama, who gained prominence through the BBC Three series Red Rose and earned a BAFTA nomination for the 2025 series What It Feels Like for a Girl. With a West End debut completed, multiple writing projects in development, and a public profile that maintains careful boundaries around personal life, Howard stands as one of the more intriguing emerging talents in British television and theatre. For readers interested in other rising performers, see Ambika Mod – Biography, Relationships, and Career Facts and Lizzie Davidson – BAFTA Winner and Star of Such Brave Girls.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Ellis Howard’s height?
Ellis Howard’s height is not publicly listed in any authoritative source.
Does Ellis Howard have an agent?
Yes, Ellis Howard is represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates.
What was Ellis Howard’s role in Red Rose?
Ellis Howard played the role of Antony Longwell in the BBC Three horror-drama series Red Rose (2022).
Is Ellis Howard on Instagram?
Yes, Ellis Howard has an Instagram account (@ellisfrancishoward) with over 19,000 followers.
What BAFTA nomination does Ellis Howard have?
Ellis Howard received a BAFTA Breakthrough nomination in 2025 for the series What It Feels Like for a Girl.
Where did Ellis Howard train?
Ellis Howard trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating in 2018.
Is Ellis Howard in a relationship?
No confirmed information about a partner or relationship status exists in public records or interviews.
What is Ellis Howard’s nationality?
Ellis Howard is English, from Liverpool.
What writing projects is Ellis Howard developing?
Ellis Howard is co-writing a TV drama with Toheeb Jimoh for Bad Wolf and developing an autobiographical show for Netflix.
Has Ellis Howard performed on stage?
Yes, Ellis Howard made a West End debut in 2023 as Dill Harris in To Kill a Mockingbird at the Gielgud Theatre.
Related stories
William Ashby is Editor-in-Chief at Edinburgh Wire, overseeing local editorial policy, standards and publication decisions.