# Ellis Howard
**Ellis Howard** (also credited as Ellis Francis Howard) is an English actor and writer from Liverpool, best known as the BAFTA-nominated lead of the BBC drama *What It Feels Like for a Girl* (2025), in which he plays Byron, a working-class teenager navigating gender transition in the early 2000s[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard). His earlier screen credits include *Catherine the Great* (2019), *Romeo & Juliet* (2021), *Help* (2021), and *Red Rose* (2022)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/).
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name | Ellis Francis Howard[3](https://bingebase.com/person/ellis-howard) |
| Born | 1996 (Bingebase and AuteurGraph list 1996, London; e-TALENTA lists 1997, Liverpool)[3](https://bingebase.com/person/ellis-howard) • [4](https://www.e-talenta.eu/members/profile/ellis-howard) |
| Training | Guildhall School of Music & Drama, final-year actor 2017–18; member of the National Youth Theatre[5](https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/drama/final-year-actors/final-year-actors-2017-18/ellis-howard) |
| Breakthrough role | Byron in *What It Feels Like for a Girl* (BBC Three, 2025), 8 episodes[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/) |
| Recognition | BAFTA Breakthrough UK 2025 cohort; BAFTA Television Leading Actor nominee 2026; RTS Breakthrough Award nominee[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/) • [7](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?award-year=2026&search=Leading+Actor&winner=nominee) • [1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard) |
| Upcoming | James, the male lead opposite Máiréad Tyers in Channel 4's *The Rachel Incident*[8](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/mairead-tyers-ellis-howard-sarah-greene-and-daniel-ings-star-rachel-incident-channel-4) |
| Writing | Developing projects with Netflix, Bad Wolf, and Sid Gentle under the mentorship of playwright James Graham[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard) |
## Early life and training
Howard grew up in a working-class family in Liverpool, in an area he identifies as Norris Green, on the border of Norris Green, Walton, and Fazakerley[9](https://ymliverpool.com/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-star/53830). He has described himself as a "gobby" child in a small house with two sisters, a large dog, and both parents; his family enrolled him in acting classes when he was about eight or nine[10](https://www.5elevenmag.com/post/ellis-howard). He is the son of a frontline NHS worker and a docker[11](https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-paris-lees-bbc-3865192).
**Free training.** When his family could not afford a prestigious drama school he had been accepted to at around age 12, he instead attended Rare, a free-to-access performing arts school in Liverpool that he credits with changing the course of his life[12](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-bbc-b1230745.html). At 14, through the UK Youth Parliament scheme, he received funding from Dr Rys Farthing, a research fellow at Oxford University, to interview children living in poverty, and turned the findings into a verbatim theater piece[11](https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-paris-lees-bbc-3865192). At 15 he performed in Jonathan Harvey's play *Beautiful Thing* in Liverpool and got his first agent[10](https://www.5elevenmag.com/post/ellis-howard).
He then trained at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, graduating in the 2017–18 final-year cohort; his roles there included Colin in *Saved*, Caesar in *Antony and Cleopatra*, and *MAM*, a solo project he wrote and directed himself[5](https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/drama/final-year-actors/final-year-actors-2017-18/ellis-howard).
## Screen career
Howard's first television credit was a small role as Ivan VI in the [Sky Atlantic](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-atlantic)/HBO miniseries *Catherine the Great* (2019), one episode, starring [Helen Mirren](https://www.edgepedia.org/helen-mirren)[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/) • [1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard). In 2021 he played Sampson in the National Theatre's hybrid filmed *Romeo & Juliet*, broadcast on Sky Arts with [Jessie Buckley](https://www.edgepedia.org/jessie-buckley) and Josh O'Connor in the leads[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard).
His 2021 role as Robbie, the entitled younger brother of [Jodie Comer](https://www.edgepedia.org/jodie-comer)'s character in [Jack Thorne](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-thorne)'s Channel 4 television film *Help*, set in a COVID-stricken Liverpool care home, brought him wider notice; the film also starred [Stephen Graham](https://www.edgepedia.org/stephen-graham) and won the 2022 Emmy Award for Best TV Movie along with two BAFTAs and an RTS Award[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard) • [11](https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-paris-lees-bbc-3865192). In 2022 he took a larger part as Antony Longwell (Ant), one of a group of friends targeted by a malicious app, in the BBC Three supernatural teen thriller *Red Rose*, set near Bolton and made by the producers of *Sex Education*[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/).
## What It Feels Like for a Girl
*What It Feels Like for a Girl*, adapted by writer and journalist [Paris Lees](https://www.edgepedia.org/paris-lees) from her 2021 memoir, premiered on [BBC Three](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-three) and [BBC iPlayer](https://www.edgepedia.org/bbc-iplayer) in 2025. The series follows Byron, a queer teenager in Hucknall, Nottinghamshire, who escapes a former mining town and finds a chosen family, the Fallen Divas, on Nottingham's club scene[13](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-cast-plot-and-everything-we-know). It was the BBC's first series to be created and produced by a trans person[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/).
Howard spent about nine months in the casting process, going through four or five rounds of auditions; Lees first noticed a photo of him on Instagram and invited him in[9](https://ymliverpool.com/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-star/53830). He prepared by rereading the book, listening to Lees's audiobook to absorb the rhythms of her voice, and speaking with her about the period of her life the series covers[14](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-ellis-howard). He has said the show's frank depiction of teenage sex work and queer life was part of its draw: "It's a valiant cry from a council estate"[12](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-bbc-b1230745.html).
The series was critically acclaimed and nominated for five BAFTAs, including Leading Actor for Howard[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/). In June 2026 Prime Video acquired the series for the United States, launching it for [Pride Month](https://www.edgepedia.org/pride-month); Howard called the sale "a revolutionary act, an act of protest" in the American political climate[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/).
## Stage work
Howard made his West End debut in 2022 as Dill Harris in the Broadway transfer of [Harper Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/harper-lee)'s *To Kill a Mockingbird* at the Gielgud Theatre, opposite [Matthew Modine](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-modine) as [Atticus Finch](https://www.edgepedia.org/atticus-finch)[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard). His stage credits also include *Romeo & Juliet* at the National Theatre[15](https://royalcourttheatre.com/cast/ellis-howard/).
## Writing and recognition
Alongside acting, Howard develops television projects with Netflix, Bad Wolf, and Sid Gentle under the mentorship of writer James Graham[1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard). He is working with his [Guildhall](https://www.edgepedia.org/guildhall) friend and fellow actor [Toheeb Jimoh](https://www.edgepedia.org/toheeb-jimoh) on a series based on their time at drama school[16](https://www.ceromagazine.com/articles/ellis-howard-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-byron-bafta-nomination-red-rose-rachel-incident-actor-writer-interview).
BAFTA named Howard among its 2025 Breakthrough UK cohort, a scheme of 20 emerging film, television, and games creatives offering a year of mentorship and industry introductions[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/). In 2026 he was nominated for the BAFTA Television Award for Leading Actor for *What It Feels Like for a Girl*, alongside an RTS Breakthrough Award nomination[7](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?award-year=2026&search=Leading+Actor&winner=nominee) • [1](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard).
## The Rachel Incident
Howard stars as James, the male lead opposite Máiréad Tyers as Rachel, in *The Rachel Incident*, Channel 4's eight-part adaptation of Caroline O'Donoghue's best-selling novel, produced by UCP and Element Pictures in association with Pageboy Productions; filming began in Ireland in February 2026[8](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/mairead-tyers-ellis-howard-sarah-greene-and-daniel-ings-star-rachel-incident-channel-4). The series, which also stars Sarah Greene and Daniel Ings, follows bookstore employee Rachel and her roommate James through unrequited love and financial struggle in Cork[17](https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/the-industry/whats-filming-uk-and-ireland-september-2026/).
## References
1. [Ellis Howard, Anthea Represents](https://anthearepresents.com/artist/ellis-howard)
2. [Ellis Howard, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/)
3. [Ellis Howard, Bingebase](https://bingebase.com/person/ellis-howard)
4. [Ellis Howard, e-TALENTA](https://www.e-talenta.eu/members/profile/ellis-howard)
5. [Ellis Howard, Final-year Actors 2017–18, Guildhall School of Music & Drama](https://www.gsmd.ac.uk/study-with-guildhall/drama/final-year-actors/final-year-actors-2017-18/ellis-howard)
6. [Ellis Howard News, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm11105441/news/)
7. [BAFTA Awards Search, 2026 Leading Actor nominees](https://www.bafta.org/awards/search/?award-year=2026&search=Leading+Actor&winner=nominee)
8. [Máiréad Tyers, Ellis Howard, Sarah Greene, and Daniel Ings to star in 'The Rachel Incident' for Channel 4](https://www.channel4.com/press/news/mairead-tyers-ellis-howard-sarah-greene-and-daniel-ings-star-rachel-incident-channel-4)
9. [Ellis Howard Interview: What It Feels Like for a Girl star on class, queerness and the power of community, YM Liverpool](https://ymliverpool.com/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-star/53830)
10. [ELLIS HOWARD, 5ELEVEN Magazine](https://www.5elevenmag.com/post/ellis-howard)
11. [Ellis Howard on the BBC's "shocking" 'What It Feels Like For A Girl' adaptation, NME](https://www.nme.com/features/tv-interviews/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-paris-lees-bbc-3865192)
12. [Meet Ellis Howard, the breakout star of What It Feels Like For A Girl, The Standard](https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/tvfilm/ellis-howard-interview-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-bbc-b1230745.html)
13. [What It Feels Like For A Girl: release date, cast, plot, trailer, What to Watch](https://www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-cast-plot-and-everything-we-know)
14. [In Conversation with Ellis Howard, Numéro Netherlands](https://www.numeronetherlands.com/in-conversation-with/in-conversation-with-ellis-howard)
15. [Ellis Howard, Royal Court Theatre](https://royalcourttheatre.com/cast/ellis-howard/)
16. [Ellis Howard is the Scouser That Could, Cero Magazine](https://www.ceromagazine.com/articles/ellis-howard-what-it-feels-like-for-a-girl-byron-bafta-nomination-red-rose-rachel-incident-actor-writer-interview)
17. [What's Filming in the UK and Ireland – September 2026, Spotlight](https://www.spotlight.com/news-and-advice/the-industry/whats-filming-uk-and-ireland-september-2026/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › English actors: 2000s onward › Surnames Gw to H*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license