Bryce Dallas Howard facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Bryce Dallas Howard
Howard in 2018
Born	(1981-03-02) March 2, 1981 (age 44) Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Alma mater	New York University (BFA)
Occupation	Actress director
Years active	1989–present
Spouse(s)	Seth Gabel ​ (m. 2006)​
Children	2
Parents	Ron Howard (father) Cheryl Alley (mother)
Relatives	Paige Howard (sister) Clint Howard (uncle) Rance Howard (grandfather) Jean Speegle Howard (grandmother)
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Bryce Dallas Howard (born March 2, 1981) is an American actress and director. She is the oldest child of the famous movie director Ron Howard. She studied acting at New York University Tisch School of the Arts.

Howard got her first big movie roles in films by director M. Night Shyamalan. She played a blind girl in the thriller The Village (2004) and a water nymph in the fantasy film Lady in the Water (2006).

She became more famous for playing Gwen Stacy in the superhero movie Spider-Man 3 (2007). She also appeared in Terminator Salvation (2009) and as the vampire Victoria in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010). One of her most well-known roles is playing Claire Dearing in the Jurassic World movies (2015–2022).

Besides acting, Howard is also a director. She directed the documentary film Dads (2019). She has also directed episodes of the popular Disney+ series The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

Early Life and Family

Bryce Dallas Howard was born in Los Angeles, California, on March 2, 1981. Her mother is writer Cheryl Howard and her father is actor and director Ron Howard. She has two younger sisters and one younger brother. Her uncle, Clint Howard, and her grandparents, Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard, were also actors.

Howard and her siblings grew up in New York and Connecticut, away from Hollywood. Their parents didn't let them watch much TV. Instead, they encouraged them to play outside. When she was seven, she was allowed to be an extra in her father's movies.

She went to a performing arts camp called Stagedoor Manor, where she learned acting with Natalie Portman. After high school, she went to New York University's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts for three years. She took a break from college to start her acting career but returned to NYU and finished her degree in 2020.

Acting Career

2002–2006: First Roles

Howard started her career acting in plays in New York City. While performing in a William Shakespeare play, she was noticed by director M. Night Shyamalan. He cast her as the lead character, a blind girl named Ivy, in his thriller movie The Village (2004). The movie was a success, and critics praised her performance.

Next, she starred in the movie Manderlay (2005), taking over a role played by Nicole Kidman in the first film. In 2006, she worked with Shyamalan again in Lady in the Water, where she played a water nymph named Story. That same year, she played Rosalind again in a movie version of As You Like It. She was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for this role.

2007–2014: Big Movies and Gaining Fame

Howard at the premiere of Spider-Man 3 in 2007

In 2007, Howard starred as Gwen Stacy in the blockbuster superhero movie Spider-Man 3. She was a big fan of the comics and even dyed her hair blonde for the part. She did many of her own stunts, not knowing at the time that she was pregnant.

She later appeared as Kate Connor in Terminator Salvation (2009). In 2010, she joined the popular Twilight series. She played the vampire Victoria in The Twilight Saga: Eclipse, replacing another actress from the earlier films.

Howard at an event for the movie Hereafter in 2010

In 2011, she played a very different role in the movie The Help. She played Hilly Holbrook, a mean socialite in 1960s Mississippi who treats people unfairly. The movie was a huge success, and the cast, including Howard, won several awards. That same year, she also appeared in the comedy-drama 50/50.

2015–Present: Jurassic World and Directing

In 2015, Howard became a worldwide star when she played Claire Dearing in Jurassic World alongside Chris Pratt. Her character is the operations manager of the dinosaur theme park. One famous scene involved her running from a dinosaur in high heels. Howard said this was one of the hardest things she ever had to do. The movie was a massive hit.

Howard at the premiere of Rocketman in 2019

In 2016, she starred in the Disney fantasy movie Pete's Dragon. She also appeared in an episode of the science fiction series Black Mirror called "Nosedive". Her performance was highly praised, and she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award.

She returned as Claire Dearing in Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018) and again in Jurassic World Dominion (2022). In these movies, her character becomes an activist for dinosaur rights.

In 2019, Howard played Elton John's mother in the musical movie Rocketman. The same year, she directed her first movie, a documentary called Dads. She has also become a successful TV director, working on episodes of the Star Wars shows The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett.

In 2024, she starred in the action comedy film Argylle.

Personal Life

Howard met actor Seth Gabel while they were both students at New York University. They dated for five years and got married in 2006. They have two children, a son born in 2007 and a daughter born in 2012. After her son was born, Howard spoke about feeling very sad for a long time, a condition known as postpartum depression. She said that getting help from a doctor and a therapist helped her recover.

The family lives in upstate New York.

Filmography

Key

Denotes works that have not yet been released

Film

Television

Video games

Theatre

Music videos

Audiobooks

Awards and nominations

See also

In Spanish: Bryce Dallas Howard para niños