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Callum Scott Howells
One year ago, actor CALLUM SCOTT HOWELLS was an unknown drama student in Wales, living at home with his parents and enjoying his PlayStation. Twelve months later, he's recognised as the most exciting young acting talent in Britain.
It's all down to his role as the innocent and loveable but ultimately tragic tailor COLIN in 'It's a Sin', surely the TV success of the year. The heartbreaking story of a group of boys and girls in 1980s London and the catastrophic impact that Aids had on them has served as an eye-opener for post-Aids generations and a shocking mirror of recognition for those who lived through it and survived. What made CALLUM's role particularly touching was its mix of naive dorkiness and deep secrecy. He caused millions of viewers to weep uncontrollably, winning many hearts in the process.
He's still adjusting to his new found fame and, for the time being, is still perfectly happy living at home with his parents.
It's all down to his role as the innocent and loveable but ultimately tragic tailor COLIN in 'It's a Sin', surely the TV success of the year. The heartbreaking story of a group of boys and girls in 1980s London and the catastrophic impact that Aids had on them has served as an eye-opener for post-Aids generations and a shocking mirror of recognition for those who lived through it and survived. What made CALLUM's role particularly touching was its mix of naive dorkiness and deep secrecy. He caused millions of viewers to weep uncontrollably, winning many hearts in the process.
He's still adjusting to his new found fame and, for the time being, is still perfectly happy living at home with his parents.
CALLUM: No, not really! Sometimes I see someone look or something, but other than that, it's nothing. But I have only properly left my housing estate like three times during the lockdown. l went to Asda - they do their own really good pizzas - and the guy opposite the counter was like, "I recognise you!"
Asda fame! How did it feel?
I felt really anxious, because I still forget now that the show is beyond where I live, because I have just been in my house. I still don't understand the true impact.
And you have become a bit of a heart-throb since the show aired, haven't you? Loads of people think you are hot...
This is news to me. You are making me blush now, because I never really think of myself like that. I just want to do the work and hope that means something to people. I feel so proud to have played this character. COLIN represents so many people that I know, that I have met and that I have heard about. So, for me it was always about doing that and doing him jus-tice, and within that, doing RUSSELL T DAVIES's story justice, because fun-damentally, he has created this world, and it is based on true events, so in that sense we have to throw ourselves into it.
I think you did a good job of it, all of you. It really stayed on my mind for days after binge-watching the whole series. I was thinking about it over and over, because I am old enough to remember all of this stuff happening. So, it was emotional...
Did you know people?
I knew people who died from Aids, yes. And I know people who have been living with HIV for many years.
The first person I met that was HIV-positive was on the show: NATH-ANIEL HALL, who plays DONALD. Also, I am fascinated, because when I talk to people who lost friends and loved ones, I just feel terrified, really, because I can't help but think if I'd had friends or if I knew people... I think I would still feel trauma from that. I know some people who have said they can't watch 'It's a Sin' for that reason, because it is too close to what they have experienced.
Before you took on the role of COLIN, how aware were you of the Aids epidemic in the '80s?
I had hardly any awareness, to be honest. My knowledge about Aids came through watching things.I watched 'Angels in America', which was a bit of an education. Then I saw newer films, like '120 BPM' and 'The Normal Heart', also 'Pose'. That was my route into understanding it, but it wasn't anywhere near as much depth as you'd need in order to do this show. I never got taught about it in school; it wasn't even mentioned. Not in history, not in PSE [Personal and Social Education], not in anything. I don't even think I was told about HIV, and that is absolutely ludicrous. I can't believe it, really.
Nowadays you define yourself as queer. Was that the case when you were at school?
I think when I first started in school, I wasn't really sure; I was still finding myself. I didn't really put a label on it as such. I was just who I was. I still don't feel as if I am defined by any sort of sexuality, really, but I think for me now - in my twenties - I say queer because I think that is the most accessible word I connect with.
How were your school days? You went to a regular comprehensive school, right?
Yes, and I had the best time. I really got along with my teachers. I had a couple of friendship groups that I was really strong with. If I could go back in time now, I'd go back to Year 9 in school, before the GCSEs, doing drama, doing loads of fun things and just enjoying the moment. I didn't have the pressure of thinking about my future, really. I was just enjoying it for what it was. Also, I really enjoyed studying Welsh in school. If I didn't do acting, I would have gone into linguistics because I really love languages. I was head boy at school, but it doesn't mean I did really well academically. I was shit academically. I was very bang average.
Do you still hang out with your old school friends?
Yes, they are my best friends!
They must be excited about your success with 'It's a Sin'?
Ah, they have all been lovely. There are a few girls who are my besties, and they have been so supportive.
Have you encountered any negative reactions to the show or any homophobia through social media or in real life since it was broadcast, or has it all been positive?
You know what? I haven't at all, which I guess is a blessing. No one wants that. Homophobia is such a toxic thing. I don't want to speak for the whole cast and say that no one has suffered from it, but I guess the fact there haven't been comments I hope means that we have humanised this community for people who don't really understand it. I think all I wanted, really, when I went into it, was to do particularly COLIN's story line and give it the sense that he is really just this boy from the Valleys in South Wales who happens to love men, and you look at him and he is no different to any other boy. I guess when people look at COLIN, it's, like, "Why would you ever want to be homophobic to him?"
Tell me about Tonyrefail, where you live. Is it a very close-knit community?
Yes, Tonyrefail is where I live, but Treorchy is where I went to school, and that is where I know everyone. That is where I did amateur dramatics, growing up. I did shows up there. And when you do shows there, everyone goes to see them. People go, like, "Oh, I loved you in 'Rock of Ages' at the weekend."
That's sweet.
Yeah, it is quite cool like that. So supportive, genuinely. It's like with H [the Welsh singer and actor who rose to fame as a member of the cheesy 1990s pop group STEPS]. Everyone in the Valleys loves H. They think he's amazing. In the local shops - the iron-mongers or whatever - they will say, "Oh yeah, he's from STEPS; I sold him a keyring once!" But genuinely, I think he is quite cool. Well, from where I come from anyway. When I was younger, I never thought I could do acting as a profession, because I never thought it was accessible. I was just doing it in my own time because I enjoyed it. My mother was always playing BOYZONE and WESTLIFE, so I used to sing in the back of the car and she was thinking, "Okay, maybe we will try him in singing or perform-ing," I don't think I was ever going to be a singer, strictly, because I think I was too showy. But I have always wanted to act or be on stage. So, musical theatre was my background, and that was how I got into acting. Then I started doing plays. My drama teacher at school was, like, "You should go and study acting," and I am thankful for that. I genuinely think if I didn't train in drama school at the Royal Welsh [College of Music and Drama], I would not have got the part in 'It's a Sin'. I didn't know how to act before drama school; it was just making shapes. Back to the question, sorry. I feel, like, in the Valleys, people are supportive because they love getting behind people and seeing people do well.
God, I haven't seen any! I genuinely haven't. You will have to come and we can work it out together.
Definitely. Can you have a wild night out in Tonyrefail, or do you have to go elsewhere?
Where I go is the Rhondda, which is further up the valley, and we normally do a pub called The New Inn, then you go to The
Fagins, then you finish off in The Banc - which is basically like a living room with lights, and the DJ is called DJ TWAT...
It sounds stunning.
Some nights he just plays the same track back-to-back. I have been there when full-on bust-ups have broken out, but you just sort of step back and let it happen because the bouncers come in and sort it out, and that. I kind of grew up in The Banc.
You live at the moment with your mum and dad, right?
Yes, and my parents are lovely. They are the most supportive people in the world.
COLIN's bedroom in 'It's a Sin' was quite grim. How does your real-life bedroom compare? Is it more comfortable than COLIN's?
Oh, definitely. It's in the loft, so the ceiling is sort of triangular-like. It's painted beige because it is my mother's house, so I have to be kind of respectful as to what she wants from it as well.
Any pictures or posters on the walls?
I have got a poster of 'The Book of Mormon', because it was my favourite
musical growing up. I saw it eight times in the West End and then once on Broadway. The rest are just Cardiff City ones, because I am a massive Cardiff City fan. I have got the club flag and I have the scarf.
What colour is the carpet? And have you got a telly in there?
The carpet is a dark and light grey and whitey grey. I have a telly, yes, a sort of flat-screen 15-inch.
At home, how independent are you? Do you do your own laundry? And clean your bedroom?
If I told you that I did, my mother would be so angry! I wish I could say I did everything, but actually my mother doesn't let me because she is so good at it and I am rubbish. Sometimes she gets me to shower the dog...
Tell me about your dog!
My dog is a Cockapoo called DEWI, which is Welsh for DAVID, and it is his birthday today. He is one. He is actually very intelligent. I have fallen completely in love with him. He is literally my life. I take him for long walks, up the mountains, always. You have to do a lot of walking with a dog.
In truth, I am not good at it at all. I play games like FIFA, the football game, and Grand Theft Auto, where you just basically go out and cause havoc. Me and my friend GABE will play against each other in a football match and be talking as we are doing it. "How's work today? Blah blah blah." For me, it is just a way of completely disconnecting. I don't have to think about learning lines. I don't have to look at the news, because the news at the moment is just on all the time. So, it is just great for me to disconnect completely and throw myself into it. I think a lot of people have issues with gaming, but I think gaming is nothing but escapism for people, especially now.
Are clothes and fashion important to you?
Increasingly so, I would say. I try to take pride in how I look. Growing up, I used to just wear skinny jeans from this place called Blue Banana in Cardiff and they were spray-on. You had to chisel them off. But now I am very much enjoying wearing baggier things.
Do you like vintage clothes?
I always try to buy vintage stuff as much as I can. I love going thrift shop-ping. It's cool, like a proper day out, which you wouldn't experience with shopping online. It is much better.
COLIN's style in 'It's a Sin' was super beige and square, a bit ALAN PARTRIDGE, but it was brilliantly done. How did you feel about wearing such dowdy '80s gear?
I actually loved it. I think the beauty of COLIN is that he doesn't really care. I think there is really a beauty in that, and I wanted to tap into it. In that scene towards the end of episode 1, he is dancing at a party and starts to really let go for the first time. I really wanted to show that COLIN in that moment is not giving a shit about what he is wearing. He cares about HEN-RY, who he has recently visited at the hospital. That is in his mind, but he is dancing for himself and HENRY.
Did you watch 'It's a Sin' with your family?
I watched episode 1 with my parents. I then let them watch the rest of it on their own. I guess I am thankful for that, because it was hard-hitting for them. Episode 3, bless my mother... She was bloody so upset for ages. She took about a week's break before watching episodes 4 and 5.
Did you watch the sex scenes with them and was that at all embarrassing?
No, I didn't watch the sex scenes with them. If I did, I would have just laughed. I'm not the type of person to cringe. I have done it, now; I can't take it back.
Do you think you'll leave the family nest and move to London when the pandemic is over?
No, that's not in my plans right now. As a place to work and visit, I love going to London and seeing my friends. But I am such a home bird. I can't stay in Tonyrefail my whole life, though. So, who knows?