Gabriel Howell is a British actor whose career has quickly moved from television drama to major feature films. After gaining wider attention through projects such as Bodies and Nightsleeper, Howell stepped into the role of Snotlout Jorgenson in the 2025 live-action adaptation of How to Train Your Dragon.
His career is particularly interesting because of the variety of characters he has taken on at an early stage. He has worked on mystery, thriller, drama, theater, and fantasy projects, showing that he is not tied to a single genre. His formal training and growing screen presence have also helped establish him as a young actor worth watching.
Who Is Gabriel Howell?
Gabriel Howell is a British actor who was born in Hong Kong and raised in the United Kingdom, with Bristol playing an important role in his childhood and adolescence.
He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, commonly known as RADA, where he developed his acting skills before beginning his professional career.
His early experience included short films and stage work before he started gaining wider recognition on television.
Rather than becoming famous through one immediate breakthrough, Howell’s career developed through a series of increasingly visible roles.
Early Life and Interest in Acting
Howell has spoken about developing an interest in performance at a young age. Growing up in a family that moved around the United Kingdom, he experienced different communities before spending much of his adolescence in Bristol.
He has described being attracted to storytelling and the energy of performing in front of an audience.
His sense of humor also became an important part of his personality. That natural ability to entertain eventually encouraged him to take acting more seriously.
Over time, a childhood interest became a professional ambition.
Training at RADA
Formal acting training played a major role in Howell’s development.
RADA is one of the UK’s most respected drama institutions, and its training places strong emphasis on performance technique, voice, movement, character development, and stagecraft.
Howell graduated from RADA in 2021.
His training gave him a strong foundation for working across different formats. This became particularly useful as his career moved between stage performances, television productions, and large-scale films.
Early Screen Work
Before reaching a mainstream audience, Howell appeared in several short films and smaller productions.
These early projects gave him practical experience and helped him develop confidence in front of the camera.
One of his notable early film roles came in The Fence, a 2022 drama in which he played Dennis.
The project allowed him to work in a grounded dramatic setting, very different from the fantasy world he would later enter.
Early roles like this are important because they give young actors opportunities to develop before stepping into larger productions.
Breakthrough With Bodies
One of the biggest early turning points in Gabriel Howell career came with the Netflix mystery series Bodies.
The six-episode series follows a complex investigation involving the same unidentified body appearing in four different historical periods. Its nonlinear story required actors to work within a complicated narrative structure.
Howell played young Elias Mannix, contributing to one of the central storylines.
His performance helped introduce him to a larger international audience and demonstrated that he could handle emotionally demanding material.
The role was particularly significant because it required him to portray a younger version of a character connected to a much larger mystery.
Success With Nightsleeper
Howell continued building momentum with Nightsleeper, a British thriller series.
He portrayed Tobi McKnight, a character caught in the intense situation surrounding a train journey that develops into a major crisis.
The production demanded quick reactions, emotional tension, and strong interaction between the cast members.
Following Bodies, the role helped establish Howell as an actor capable of handling suspense-driven material.
It also broadened his television profile before he moved into one of his biggest film roles.
Becoming Snotlout in How to Train Your Dragon
In 2025, Gabriel Howell took on one of his most recognizable roles as Snotlout Jorgenson in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon.
The movie was directed by Dean DeBlois, who was also closely involved with the original animated trilogy.
The cast included Mason Thames as Hiccup, Nico Parker as Astrid, Gerard Butler as Stoick, Nick Frost as Gobber, Julian Dennison as Fishlegs, Bronwyn James as Ruffnut, and Harry Trevaldwyn as Tuffnut.
For Howell, joining the franchise represented a significant career milestone.
Who Is Snotlout?
Snotlout is one of the young Vikings from Berk and is known for his confidence, competitiveness, humor, and tendency to challenge Hiccup.
The animated version became closely associated with Jonah Hill’s performance, meaning Howell had the difficult task of bringing a familiar character into live action without simply copying the earlier interpretation.
He approached the role by drawing inspiration from the established version while adding his own personality and emotional depth.
This helped make the live-action Snotlout feel like a real character rather than a direct imitation.
Growing Up With How to Train Your Dragon
One unusual advantage Howell had was a genuine personal connection to the franchise.
He has discussed knowing the How to Train Your Dragon world from childhood and being familiar with the books and animated films.
That familiarity created both excitement and pressure.
Taking part in a franchise that had been meaningful to him while growing up gave the role additional significance.
For a young actor, becoming part of a story that influenced his own childhood is a major professional moment.
Preparing for a Fantasy Production
Working on a fantasy film is different from acting in a realistic television drama.
Actors have to respond to environments and creatures that may not physically exist in front of them.
For How to Train Your Dragon, practical puppetry and specialized performers helped the cast imagine the dragons during filming.
This kind of preparation gave Howell and his castmates something physical to react to and helped make the fantasy world feel more believable.
The experience also required strong imagination and physical acting.
Creating His Own Version of Snotlout
Howell has explained that he wanted to bring something personal to Snotlout.
The character’s confidence can sometimes hide insecurity, and Howell explored that contrast in his performance.
Instead of treating Snotlout as simply a loud comic rival, he attempted to give the character emotional layers.
That approach makes sense for live action because real-world characters often require more subtle motivations than animated versions.
His performance therefore combines humor, competitiveness, vulnerability, and youthful energy.
Gabriel Howell’s Acting Style
One of Howell’s strengths is versatility.
His television work shows that he can handle serious and suspenseful material, while his role in How to Train Your Dragon allows him to explore comedy, physical performance, and adventure.
His acting style often combines natural dialogue with strong emotional reactions.
The variety of his work suggests that he is interested in character development rather than being limited to one type of role.
Influences and Inspirations
Howell has spoken positively about several established actors who influenced his approach to performance.
Among the names associated with his inspirations are Al Pacino, Stephen Graham, Paapa Essiedu, Juliette Binoche, Olivia Colman, and Sam Rockwell.
These performers represent very different styles, but they share an ability to create believable characters with strong emotional detail.
That range of influences reflects Howell’s own interest in continuing to develop as an actor.
Career Beyond One Franchise
Although Snotlout could become his most recognizable role, Howell’s career is broader than How to Train Your Dragon.
His work in Bodies and Nightsleeper demonstrates that he can perform in more serious settings.
His stage work also highlights his traditional acting training.
This variety gives him opportunities to develop beyond a single franchise character and potentially explore more demanding dramatic roles in the future.
What Comes Next for Gabriel Howell?
Howell’s career is still in an early but promising stage.
He has already moved from short films and theater into internationally recognized television and major studio filmmaking.
A planned appearance as Snotlout in How to Train Your Dragon 2 would give him another opportunity to develop the character and remain part of the franchise.
At the same time, his background suggests that he may continue exploring projects outside the fantasy genre.
That balance could be important for his long-term career because it allows him to build recognition without becoming dependent on a single role.
Why Gabriel Howell Is Gaining Attention
There are several reasons audiences are increasingly interested in Gabriel Howell.
His role in Bodies introduced him to international viewers.
Nightsleeper strengthened his profile in British television.
His portrayal of Snotlout placed him in a major global movie franchise.
His RADA training gives him a strong theatrical foundation.
Most importantly, his career choices demonstrate versatility at an early stage.
Rather than relying on one type of performance, Howell has already experimented with very different characters and storytelling formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Gabriel Howell?
Gabriel Howell is a British actor known for roles in Bodies, Nightsleeper, The Fence, and How to Train Your Dragon.
Who does Gabriel Howell play in How to Train Your Dragon?
He plays Snotlout Jorgenson, one of the young Viking dragon-training students and a rival of Hiccup.
What role did Gabriel Howell play in Bodies?
He portrayed young Elias Mannix in the Netflix mystery thriller Bodies.
Did Gabriel Howell attend RADA?
Yes. He trained at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and graduated in 2021.
Is Gabriel Howell returning for How to Train Your Dragon 2?
He is associated with the planned sequel and is expected to continue playing Snotlout.
What other projects has Gabriel Howell appeared in?
His screen work includes Nightsleeper, The Fence, several short films, and stage performances.
Conclusion
Gabriel Howell has already built an impressive foundation for a young acting career. From his early training at RADA to his performances in Bodies and Nightsleeper, he has demonstrated the ability to handle serious and challenging material.
His role as Snotlout in the live-action How to Train Your Dragon represents a major step forward, placing him within a globally recognized franchise while giving him the opportunity to reinterpret a familiar character for a new generation.
What makes Howell particularly interesting is the variety in his work. He has moved comfortably between television, theater, independent projects, and large-scale fantasy filmmaking.
