Ellis Howard: Actor, Writer, and Red Rose Star

If you caught the BBC Three horror-comedy Red Rose, you’ve already seen Ellis Howard bring a tense, magnetic presence to the screen. But this young actor and writer is more than one spooky series — he’s quietly building a career that puts queer working-class stories front and centre.

Full name: Ellis Francis Howard · Born: c. 1997 · Occupation: Actor and writer · Known for: Red Rose (2022) · Instagram followers: 19K · Representation: Casarotto Ramsay & Associates

The table below distills the core biographical details.

Seven facts that build a profile — but several gaps remain. The pattern is clear: Howard’s professional credentials are solidly documented, while personal details stay deliberately off the record.

Who is Ellis Howard?

Ellis Francis Howard is an English actor and writer born around 1997, best known for playing a lead role in the BBC Three supernatural drama Red Rose (2022). He is represented by Casarotto Ramsay & Associates, and his agency profile notes he is developing projects with Sid Gentle, Mammoth Screen, Eleven Film, Federation Entertainment, See-Saw Films, Pure Fiction, and Moonage Pictures. He is also co-writing an original series for Bad Wolf alongside Ted Lasso actor Toheeb Jimoh.

• Howard’s agency says he previously worked with HBO, the National Theatre, and the Barbican (Casarotto).
• A YouTube interview description states he was selected for BAFTA Breakthrough and grew up in Liverpool (YouTube BAFTA Breakthrough announcement).
• Howard began creating political theatre with BRASS RAZOO, a project that launched national policy change around child poverty in 2015 (Casarotto).

“Telling queer working-class stories from the north of England isn’t just representation — it’s reclaiming a voice that’s been missing.”

— Ellis Howard, interviewed by behindtheblinds.be

The implication: Howard’s identity as a Liverpudlian queer performer isn’t incidental — it shapes the stories he chooses and develops. His early political theatre work shows a commitment to social change that predates his screen career.

What gender is Ellis Howard?

Ellis Howard is a male actor. Public materials — including his IMDb profile, Instagram account (@ellisfrancishoward), and agency listing — refer to him with he/him pronouns. In a behindtheblinds.be interview, he speaks openly about queer identity, but does not specify a label beyond mentioning his work portraying queer characters.

The pattern: what’s clear — his pronouns and self-identification — contrasts with what’s still private. No public statement about a specific label beyond “queer” has been made, and that’s entirely his choice.

Is Ellis Howard married?

There is no public record of Ellis Howard being married. No confirmed information about a partner or relationship status exists in any of the credible sources surveyed: his Casarotto agency profile includes no personal details, and neither his IMDb page nor his Instagram account mention a spouse or significant other.

• A search through interviews and news articles yields no mention of a partner (5ELEVEN Magazine interview; behindtheblinds.be interview).
• The absence of credible sources likely indicates his relationship status is private.

What this means: for now, the answer is no — not married, not publicly partnered. That may change, but there’s no evidence to suggest otherwise.

How old is Ellis Howard?

Ellis Howard was born around 1997, making him approximately 27–28 years old as of 2025. The exact date is not publicly available. His IMDb bio page lists his birth year only. No official source provides a day or month.

How tall is Ellis Howard?

Howard’s height is not officially disclosed. Various unconfirmed estimates exist on fan forums, but no reliable source — agency, IMDb, or interview — has published a measurement.

The table below shows what is verified and what remains unknown.

The trade-off: for a private person early in a public career, the missing details are typical. Fans will have to wait until Howard chooses to share them.

What movies and TV shows has Ellis Howard appeared in?

Howard’s screen credits span television, film, and theatre. Here’s the confirmed filmography so far:

• Television: Red Rose (BBC Three, 2022) – regular role (Casarotto). Also credited in Jack Thorne’s HELP (Casarotto). IMDb also associates Howard with Catherine the Great (2019) and Reasons Why (2017) (IMDb main).
• Film: What It Feels Like for a Girl (2025) – lead role as Byron, a young queer/trans teenager, adapted from Paris Lees’ novel (5ELEVEN Magazine). Also announced: The Rachel Incident (IMDb main).
• Theatre: West End debut as Dill in To Kill a Mockingbird (Casarotto). Also performed in Romeo & Juliet (2021) (IMDb bio).

“Howard’s performance in What It Feels Like for a Girl captures the raw confusion and joy of a teenager finding his identity.”

— 5ELEVEN Magazine

The pattern: across a small but varied filmography, Howard gravitates toward stories that centre marginalised perspectives — period drama, horror, queer coming-of-age — and always with a northern English or working-class thread.

Timeline: Ellis Howard’s career so far

The implication: Howard’s trajectory — from grassroots political theatre to West End to BBC drama to film lead — shows an artist who builds momentum methodically. Each step adds a new credential without losing the original purpose.

What’s confirmed — and what’s still unclear

Why this balance: with a still-young career and a preference for privacy, the gaps outnumber the knowns. That’s not unusual for an actor at this stage — but it means fans and journalists alike should treat unverified claims with caution.

What’s next for Ellis Howard

What It Feels Like for a Girl is scheduled for release in 2025, with Howard playing the lead role of Byron. According to 5ELEVEN Magazine, the film is based on Paris Lees’ novel and explores queer adolescence in northern England. Simultaneously, Howard is co-writing an original series for Bad Wolf alongside Toheeb Jimoh, and developing projects with several major production companies (Casarotto).

The coming years will reveal whether Howard becomes a defining voice for queer working-class narratives.

For the British TV and film industry, the choice is clear: nurture Howard’s unique blend of grassroots activism and mainstream ambition, or risk losing a generational talent to the indie circuit. For audiences, watching his next moves is the easy part. For more on British TV talent, see our profiles of Bernard Cribbins and Inside Number 9 Theatre.