Hubbry Logo
Helena HowardHelena HowardMain
Open search
Helena Howard
Community hub
Helena Howard
logo
7 pages, 0 posts
0 subscribers
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Helena Howard
Helena Howard
Helena Howard
View on Wikipedia
from Wikipedia

Kaitlyn Helena Howard (born July 23, 1998) is an American actress. After being discovered by director Josephine Decker at age 15, she made her film debut in the drama film Madeline's Madeline (2018), which IndieWire named as one of the 50 best performances of the 2010s[1] and The New Yorker listed as the second-best film performance of the 21st century.[2]

Key Information

Early life

[edit]

Howard was born on July 23, 1998, in New York City, New York.[3] Her parents, both artists, are Julia Binet and Will Howard. Her mother is of Scandinavian and Eastern European descent, and her father is African American of mixed descent. She has a younger brother, Liam. Howard grew up in the New Jersey area,[4][5] and attended the Union County Academy for Performing Arts.[6]

Career

[edit]

After she was discovered by Josephine Decker in 2014 at the Union County Teen Arts Festival, where Decker was a judge, Howard starred in her critically acclaimed feature film Madeline's Madeline. This was Howard's screen debut and she played the titular role.[7]

Howard was a participant in the festival, and recited a monologue from David Harrower's Blackbird. When she finished, Decker said of Howard's performance that it was "the best she had seen" in her life, and they both started crying. Decker and Howard exchanged some information after the show ended and met up a month or so later; Howard ultimately helped develop the story of the film through several improvisation workshops with Decker and others.[8][9]

The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 22, 2018. It was released on August 10, 2018, by Oscilloscope Laboratories. It received critical acclaim, particularly for Howard's performance, which IndieWire named one of the 50 best performances of the 2010s.[10]

Howard's next role was in the short film Twist, which had its world premiere at the 2019 Tribeca Film Festival.[11] She stars as Nora Reid in Amazon's The Wilds.[12] Howard also appeared as Cleo in the film Shoplifters of the World.[13][14]

Filmography

[edit]

Film and television

[edit]
Key
† Denotes films that have not yet been released
Year Title Role Director Notes
2018 Madeline's Madeline Madeline Josephine Decker
2019 Twist Hannah Aly Migliori Short
2020–2022 The Wilds Nora Reid Sarah Streicher Serial
2020 Don't Look Deeper Aisha Jeffrey Lieber, Charlie McDonnell Serial
2021 Shoplifters of the World Cleo Stephen Kijak
2024 I Saw the TV Glow Isabel Jane Schoenbrun [15]
2025 Find Your Friends TBA Izabel Pakzad

Awards and nominations

[edit]
Year Award Category Work Result Reference
2018 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor Madeline's Madeline Nominated [16]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Female Lead Nominated [17]

References

[edit]
[edit]
Revisions and contributorsEdit on WikipediaRead on Wikipedia

Helena Howard

View on Grokipedia
from Grokipedia
Helena Howard (born Kaitlyn Helena Howard; July 23, 1998) is an American actress best known for her critically acclaimed debut role as the titular character in the 2018 independent film , directed by . Her performance in the film, which explores themes of identity and performance through a young dancer's immersion in an experimental theater troupe, earned her nominations for Best Female Lead at the 2019 Independent Spirit Awards and Breakthrough Actor at the 2018 . Born in and raised between New York and , Howard developed a passion for acting at age three after watching the 1999 film The Mummy, which inspired her early involvement in school plays and youth theater programs. At age 15, she was discovered by Decker at a drama festival, leading to her participation in workshops with the Pig Iron Theatre Company and ultimately her casting in , which premiered at the and the . The film received widespread praise, with critics highlighting Howard's raw intensity and emotional depth, placing her performance among the decade's standout debuts. Following her breakthrough, Howard expanded her career into television and additional film roles, portraying the enigmatic Nora Reid in the Amazon Prime Video survival drama series The Wilds (2020–2022), which follows a group of teenage girls stranded on a deserted island. She has since appeared in supporting roles in films such as Shoplifters of the World (2021), a coming-of-age comedy set during the breakup of the Smiths band, and I Saw the TV Glow (2024), a psychological horror film directed by Jane Schoenbrun that delves into themes of identity and media obsession. In 2025, she starred in the thriller Find Your Friends and the drama The Red Mask. A member of SAG-AFTRA, Howard continues to build her profile in independent cinema and streaming television, drawing on her theater background for nuanced, introspective characters.

Early life and education

Family and background

Helena Howard was born on July 23, 1998, in , New York. Her parents are artists Julia Binet and Will Howard. Howard has a younger brother named . Her mother, Julia Binet, is of English, Irish, and German descent, while her father, Will Howard, is African American. Born in New York City, Howard was raised between New York and New Jersey.

Schooling and early performing arts involvement

Her early exposure to the performing arts began at age three, sparked by watching the 1999 film The Mummy, which ignited a lasting passion for acting. Growing up between New York and New Jersey, Howard immersed herself in creative environments that nurtured her artistic inclinations from a young age. Howard's formal education in the started in at a specialized performing arts program, followed by high school at the Union County Academy for Performing Arts in , from 2012 to 2016. At the academy, she focused on theater arts, participating actively in school productions, including several plays and one musical, which allowed her to develop her stage presence amid a community of like-minded students. Though she found the school's emphasis on musical theater somewhat mismatched with her preference for dramatic screen acting, these experiences provided a foundational platform for her skills. Beyond classroom , Howard engaged in youth activities, including local amateur theater and annual arts festivals in Union County, where she performed monologues and collaborated with peers. She described growing up "on " through these outlets, blending school-based rehearsals with events that honed her improvisational abilities and emotional depth. Supplementing her practical involvement, Howard self-taught techniques by studying classic plays, Uta Hagen's acting texts, and films such as , which she watched repeatedly since age 11 to internalize nuanced performances. These pre-professional pursuits in New Jersey's tri-state theater scene built her resilience and commitment, setting the stage for her transition into more intensive .

Professional career

Discovery and debut

Howard was discovered at the age of 15 while performing as a student at the Union County Academy for Performing Arts. In 2014, she competed at the Union County Teen Arts Festival in , where she delivered a monologue from David Harrower's Blackbird. Judging the acting category, director was profoundly moved by Howard's performance, later describing it as "the most beautiful live performance I’d ever seen" and the best she had witnessed in her life. Decker immediately envisioned Howard as the lead for her next film, , initiating a collaborative preparation process that spanned two years. Howard auditioned alongside peers performing scenes from works like Frozen and , but Decker's focus remained on her unique intensity. The pair developed the project through seven months of monthly improvisational workshops with the cast, allowing Howard to embody the role organically before principal photography began in 2017. Directed by Decker, premiered at the on January 22, 2018, and received a wide release on August 10, 2018. Howard starred as Madeline, a talented yet troubled teenager navigating her place in an theater ensemble led by an ambitious director. Howard's debut earned widespread critical acclaim for its raw emotional depth and innovative physicality, marking her as a bold new voice in independent cinema. ranked her performance among the 50 best acting turns in films of the , praising its inseparability from the film's experimental form. later named it the second-best film performance of the to date, highlighting its visceral originality.

Film and television roles

Following her breakout performance in , Howard's acclaim opened doors to a series of indie films and streaming series that showcased her versatility in portraying complex young women navigating personal and societal pressures. In 2019, she starred as Hannah in the short film Twist, directed by Aly Migliori, where she depicted a vulnerable teenager encountering danger on her way home, a role that premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival and highlighted her ability to convey tension and resilience in compact storytelling. This project marked an early post-debut step into narrative shorts, emphasizing themes of isolation and survival that would recur in her work. Howard expanded into feature films with her role as Cleo in the 2021 punk rock comedy-drama , directed by Stephen Kijak, where she played a devoted fan grappling with the breakup of her favorite band amid personal turmoil in 1980s . The film, set against the backdrop of ' disbandment announcement, allowed Howard to explore youthful obsession and emotional upheaval in an ensemble setting, blending humor with heartfelt introspection. Her performance contributed to the film's focus on music as a catalyst for self-discovery among friends. On television, Howard achieved a significant breakthrough as Nora Reid in the survival drama The Wilds (2020–2022), appearing in all 18 episodes across two seasons as a quiet, intelligent twin stranded on a deserted island with other teen girls as part of a covert . Nora's arc delved into psychological strain, bonds, and emerging , with Howard portraying her evolution from observer to active participant in the group's dynamics. The series underscored Howard's skill in ensemble-driven narratives, where interpersonal conflicts revealed deeper layers of identity and trauma. She further demonstrated range in the sci-fi thriller Don't Look Deeper (2020), leading as , a high senior uncovering that she is an android, in a 13-episode series exploring , family deception, and existential questions of humanity. Howard's portrayal captured Aisha's confusion and defiance, emphasizing themes of technological intrusion on personal identity within a fast-paced, bite-sized format. Across these projects, Howard consistently gravitated toward roles illuminating the psychological depth of young women in ensemble contexts, from indie explorations of vulnerability to streaming tales of resilience and .

Recent and upcoming projects

In 2024, Howard portrayed Isabel in Jane Schoenbrun's horror-drama , which delves into themes of and through the lens of two teenagers obsessed with a fictional '90s TV series. The film premiered at the and received critical acclaim for its atmospheric exploration of escapism and self-discovery. That same year, she appeared as Grace in the Hallmark mystery TV movie Nelly Knows Mysteries: A Fatal Engagement, a standalone episode in the where an advice columnist investigates a tied to her childhood friend. Howard also starred as in the short drama Returning to Earth, directed by Tim Hunter, which follows a recovering alcoholic father reconnecting with his estranged daughter in and premiered at film festivals in 2024. In 2025, Howard starred as Allina Green in the horror-thriller The Red Mask, an under-the-radar feature co-starring and , which premiered at FrightFest in August 2025 and Screamfest in November 2025. She also played Amber in the indie thriller Find Your Friends, directed by Izabel Pakzad, alongside , , and , centering on a group of friends whose weekend getaway in Joshua Tree turns perilous; the film premiered at Fantasia in July 2025 and in September 2025. Building on her breakout television role in The Wilds, Howard's recent and forthcoming projects signal a pivot toward genre-driven narratives in horror and thriller cinema, often within diverse ensemble casts that highlight her versatility in supporting and lead capacities.

Filmography

Feature films

YearTitleRoleNotes
2018MadelineFeature debut; premiered at the .
2019TwistHannahShort film; premiered at the 2019 .
2021CleoTheatrical release.
2024IsabelTheatrical release.
2024ZorahShort film.
2025The Red MaskAllina GreenPremiered at FrightFest 2025.
2025Find Your FriendsAmberPremiered at 2025.

Television series

Helena Howard's television appearances are limited but notable, marking her transition from stage and film to serialized storytelling. Her role as Nora Reid in The Wilds served as a streaming breakthrough, showcasing her in a recurring ensemble capacity. The following table summarizes her credited roles in television series and specials in chronological order:
YearTitleRoleEpisodesPlatform
2020Don't Look DeeperAisha14
2020–2022The WildsNora Reid18

Recognition

Awards and nominations

Howard's breakout performance as the titular character in her feature film debut (2018) garnered multiple nominations and two wins from organizations and critics groups, highlighting her emergence as a promising talent. The following table lists her awards and nominations as of November 2025:
YearAwardCategoryResultWorkSource
2018Sarasota Film FestivalSpecial Recognition for Breakthrough PerformanceWon
2018Gotham Independent Film AwardsBreakthrough ActorNominated
2018Greater Film Critics Association AwardsBest Debut PerformanceNominated
2018 Film Journalists Association AwardsBreakout of the YearNominated
2019Independent Spirit AwardsBest Female LeadNominated
2019International Cinephile Society AwardsWon (tied with Sakura Andô)
2019Chlotrudis AwardsNominated
2019Music City Film Critics Association AwardsNominated
2019Music City Film Critics Association AwardsBest Young ActressNominated

Critical reception

Howard's breakout performance as the titular character in Josephine Decker's 2018 experimental drama garnered widespread critical acclaim for its raw emotional power and innovative execution. ranked it 13th on its list of the 50 best acting performances in films of the , praising Howard's "emotional intensity and raw vulnerability" as she navigated the character's fractured psyche with "fearless physicality" and an "innovative approach to the film's style." Similarly, placed the performance second on its list of the best movie performances of the so far, highlighting its "jolting immediacy, spontaneity, and vulnerability" as a transformative example of invention in contemporary cinema. In the Amazon Prime series The Wilds (2020–2022), Howard portrayed Nora Reid, a reserved autistic savant whose intricate backstory and internal conflicts added layers to the ensemble survival narrative. Critics commended her ability to convey Nora's quiet complexity amid the group's dynamics. Howard's later role as Isabel in Jane Schoenbrun's 2024 I Saw the TV Glow further demonstrated her evolving range, contributing to the movie's subtle blend of psychological unease and genre experimentation. The film premiered to critical acclaim at the and was praised for its nuanced approach to horror through themes of identity and media obsession. This work underscored her growing versatility across genres, from intimate dramas to speculative thrillers. Across her roles in young adult-centered projects, Howard has been consistently lauded for infusing characters with raw authenticity and psychological depth, often drawing on subtle facial expressions and physicality to reveal inner turmoil. described her debut as a "revelation" that signals a promising career built on genuine emotional discovery, while emphasized the "haunting" authenticity she brings to troubled teens grappling with and identity. These qualities have positioned her as a distinctive voice in portraying the unfiltered complexities of adolescence.

References

  1. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/helena_howard
  2. https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1932292-helena-howard?language=en-US
  3. https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/2019-independent-spirit-awards-nominations-1202021241/
  4. https://www.indiewire.com/awards/industry/2018-gotham-awards-nominations-1202012918/
  5. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8473220/
  6. https://variety.com/2024/film/features/i-saw-the-tv-glow-jane-schoenbrun-interview-owen-trans-1235989079/
  7. https://collider.com/find-your-friends-image-helena-howard-fantastic-fest/
  8. https://deadline.com/2024/10/inanna-sarkis-helena-howard-red-mask-filming-los-angeles-movie-1236156170/
  9. https://www.backstage.com/u/HelenaHoward/
  10. https://www.wikibuff.com/hollywood/helena-howard/
  11. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8473220/bio/
  12. https://ethnicelebs.com/helena-howard
  13. https://www.entertainmentbaba.com/actor/helena-howard/
  14. https://www.tvinsider.com/people/helena-howard/
  15. https://filmmakermagazine.com/people/helena-howard/
  16. https://floodmagazine.com/52289/the-new-breed-of-collaborative-filmmaking-in-madelines-madeline/
  17. https://www.vulture.com/2018/08/helena-howard-q-and-a.html
  18. https://thefilmstage.com/josephine-decker-and-helena-howard-on-the-art-they-love-and-breaking-creative-barriers-in-madelines-madeline/
  19. https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/08/josephine-decker-is-bringing-danger-back-to-independent-filmmaking
  20. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2018/08/20/helena-howard-and-josephine-decker-trek-to-storm-king
  21. https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-madelines-madeline-josephine-decker-20180825-story.html
  22. https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/madelines-madeline-interview-josephine-decker-helena-howard-1201991808/
  23. https://letterboxd.com/film/madelines-madeline/
  24. https://www.indiewire.com/gallery/best-acting-movies-2010s-performances/
  25. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/the-best-movie-performances-of-the-century-so-far
  26. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9107106/
  27. https://tribecafilm.com/news/tribeca-shorts-2019
  28. https://press.amazonmgmstudios.com/us/en/cast/helena-howard/78
  29. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10488234/
  30. https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/dont_look_deeper
  31. https://www.sundance.org/blogs/reality-slips-away-in-the-eerie-i-saw-the-tv-glow/
  32. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt15574270/
  33. https://www.themoviedb.org/movie/1310512-nelly-knows-mysteries-a-fatal-engagement?language=en-US
  34. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32063324/
  35. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30947718/
  36. https://filmfreeway.com/ReturningToEarth
  37. https://deadline.com/2024/04/helena-howard-bella-thorne-chloe-cherry-join-find-your-friends-thriller-1235898937/
  38. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt32275326/
  39. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt6101602/
  40. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2241557/
  41. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/helena-howard-madelines-madeline-and-james-ferrari-mouthful-of-air-join-forces-to-star-in-tim-hunters-rivers-edge-featurette-returning-to-earth-302191065.html
  42. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10882924/
  43. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8633062/
  44. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm8473220/awards/
  45. https://www.srqmagazine.com/articles/902/I-Am-Not-A-Witch--Minding-The-Gap-Win-Top-Awards-at-Sarasota-Film-Festival
  46. https://gwnyfilmcritics.com/portfolio/awards-2018/
  47. https://www.imdb.com/event/ev0001892/2019/1/
  48. https://variety.com/2020/tv/reviews/the-wilds-amazon-review-1234850437/
  49. https://www.newyorker.com/culture/the-front-row/i-saw-the-tv-glow-is-a-profound-vision-of-the-trans-experience
  50. https://www.dazeddigital.com/film-tv/article/40790/1/helena-howard-madelines-madeline-miranda-july
Add your contribution
Related Hubs
User Avatar
No comments yet.