Callum Scott Howells reflects on It’s a Sin as he appears in stunning new shoot for Vingt Sept Magazine
The 21-year-old rising star's latest shoot is a far cry from mild-mannered Colin Morris-Jones.
By Will Stroude
Words: Will Stroude
After securing a permanent place in the hearts of It’s A Sin viewers as wide-eyed Welsh boy Colin Morris-Jones, Callum Scott Howells is giving his legions of new fans plenty to think about in a stunning new shoot and interview with Vingt Sept Magazine.
Callum, 21, has established himself as one of the UK’s most exciting new queer acting talents following his unforgettable turn in Russell T Davies’ Channel 4 and HBO Max Aids drama, and it seems the rising star knows how to turn a look, too.
Callum Scott Howells for Vingt Sept Magazine. Coat by Bally; jewellery by Alighieri (Photography by Jack Alexander; Styling by Ogun Gortan; Grooming by Jon Chapman at Nylon Artists using Dior Skin and Monpure; Interview by Cyan Dacasin; Sub Editor: Primrose Jeanton)
In an exclusive shoot and interview with fashion and culture magazine Vingt Sept, Callum reflects on the power of It’s A Sin in helping to shine a light on Aids victims whose voices and tragedies were silenced during the homophobia-ridden 1980s.
“It’s a very important period in history. It was a time where people were dying en masse and the government also dealt with it horribly,” reflects Callum, who previously told Attitude that Britain’s education system is “deeply flawed” for omitting the period from the syllabus.
“There was no sympathy, no mourning over the dead. No one was publicly acknowledging that people had to mourn the death of their loved ones, whether it was a son, daughter, uncle, and even a very close friend.”
Callum Scott Howells for Vingt Sept Magazine. Shirt, shoes and socks by Gucci; trousers & cummerbund by Dior; jewellery by Alighieri (Photography by Jack Alexander; Styling by Ogun Gortan; Grooming by Jon Chapman at Nylon Artists using Dior Skin and Monpure; Interview by Cyan Dacasin; Sub Editor: Primrose Jeanton)
Callum goes on: “When you look back and realise there was no public acknowledgement of it, or its importance, to tell the story was so significant to give justice for all of those beautiful souls that died.”
As the mild-mannered side-kick to Olly Alexander’s coolly confident Ritchie and Omari Douglas’s exuberant Roscoe, the character of Colin Morris-Jones struck a chord with many LGBTQ viewers of It’s A Sin right from the series premiere.
“I think Colin weirdly represents us all,” Callum tells Vingt Sept. “We’ve all been Colin at some point in our lives. His character embodies the innocence and beauty of what we all go through. He’s a sponge that is absorbing everything at this point of his life, now that he’s left home and having to learn the ropes quickly. I think that’s all of us.
Callum Scott Howells for Vingt Sept Magazine. Coat by Bally; jewellery by Alighieri (Photography by Jack Alexander; Styling by Ogun Gortan; Grooming by Jon Chapman at Nylon Artists using Dior Skin and Monpure; Interview by Cyan Dacasin; Sub Editor: Primrose Jeanton
“We’ve all been there, and some still are. Even if you look at the story itself, look at the parallels between Richie and Colin. You see vulnerability from both sides of the spectrum.
“I relate to Colin a lot and I’ve spoken to people about it. Everyone says, ‘Oh that was me when I first moved to London’.”
He adds: “That’s the beauty of Russell’s writing. He created a character that was just so full of joy and life. I think it’s a testament to his genius. He knows what to do with the show.
“He’s just bloody brilliant!”
For the full shoot and interview head to Vingt Sept Magazine.
