Since starring in It’s a Sin, Callum Scott Howells has been gravitating towards opportunities that will challenge him just as much as the queer series. “I yearn for roles that will get my blood going and my adrenaline pumping,” says the Welsh actor. This year, he’s starring in two such projects, the first one being Netflix’s The Beautiful Game. In the film, Callum is portraying an English football team player participating in the Homeless World Cup, for whom the sport becomes a powerful tool in fighting his drug addiction. In October, the actor also began his stint on the West End stage as the naughty Emcee in the incredible adaptation of the classic musical Cabaret. What intrigues him about this story? “It shows a country, and the underground scene and its community, on the verge of war,” answers Callum. “I think it’s super interesting to look at how that moment affected people, and this rendition explores that on a deep level.”

How did the experience of starring in It’s A Sin affect the types of roles that you are looking for right now?

The show really threw me into the deep end in terms of topics I dealt with as an actor, and the physical and mental challenges I faced. Now, when I look at potential roles, I yearn for projects that really get my blood going and my adrenaline pumping. I want to play characters that have a lot of backstories and be a part of things that challenge people’s ideas.

Left Full look **Salvatore Ferragamo**
Right Full look **Gucci**

The series has really resonated with the audience at the time of its release - what have been some of the interactions with the viewers that will always stay with you?

I still think about moments from the past couple of years when people would approach me on the street while I’m walking my dog and share with me their personal stories about living with HIV and how the show made a big change in their lives. Those are the interactions that I tell my parents about because they’re the most special thing. I remember them all so vividly.

Left Knit **Fendi**, shorts **JW Anderson**
Right Full look **Gucci**

This Autumn, you’re taking over the Playhouse Theatre stage in London as the Emcee in Cabaret. How are the rehearsals going?

The role of the Emcee is so iconic and there’s a lot of pressure that I’ve put on myself about it, but I’m being allowed to do my own thing which is really fun! I’m having the time of my life during the rehearsals – it’s one of the most fun roles I’ve ever played and I’m excited to get my teeth into it properly.

Cabaret is such a timeless musical! What do you find most interesting about the story that the show is telling?

I find it really intriguing how the play shows a country, and also more specifically, the underground scene and community around it, on the verge of war. I think it’s super interesting to explore how that moment affected and changed people, and I think this production really explores that on a deep level.

Up next, you’re also starring in The Beautiful Game on Netflix. What made you want to be a part of this project and who are you playing in the film?

I’m portraying Nathan, a player of the England football team in the Homeless World Cup who’s coming off heroin and is dealing with a very complicated situation at home. The film is all about people forgetting the troubles they face in their day-to-day lives and channelling their energy into something they love, which I hope will resonate with a lot of people.

I read somewhere that you really like to play FIFA - how’s that going and which team do you most often play with?

Yes, I love it! My housemates and I have the career mode with Wimbledon, because that’s where we live, and we are doing quite well. We’ve got them up to the Premier League, which is quite a big achievement for us!

So you’re a great actor and FIFA player - are there any other talents that we should know about?

I’m biased and people may disagree, but I think I’m bloody good at cooking! If you give me some ingredients and tell me to make a dish, I’ll usually be able to muster something up – the reason that I’m saying this is because a lot of my friends would say that I’m shit at it. But you know what? Give me my own cooking show and I’ll show the bloody world!

Left Top **JW Anderson**, brooch **Faberge**
Right Full look **JW Anderson**

Lastly, what’s a film that shaped you growing up or was just really important to you at that time?

High School Musical had a huge impact on me! When it first came out, I remember really seeing myself in the character of Ryan and also relating to Troy’s storyline about wanting to play basketball and act at the same time, because I really loved football growing up. It sounds so cliché, but it was such a bloody amazing film!

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Interview by Martin Onufrowicz

Photography by Emilia Staugaard

Fashion by Michael Miller

Casting by Imagemachine Cs

Production by Dominic Holroyd

Grooming by Nadia Altinbas