Howard became more recognizable to audiences as Gwen Stacy in 2007's Spider-Man 3 and The Twilight Saga: Eclipse (2010), playing Victoria, a villainous vampire seeking revenge. Those two projects, as well as the 2009 Terminator Salvation release, are among her most financially successful movies, but all three garnered mixed reviews from the press. She also starred in The Help, alongside Emma Stone and Viola Davis. The film became a critical and box office success.
Early life
Conceived in Dallas, Texas – the source of her middle name – Howard was born in Los Angeles, California, the daughter of writer Cheryl Alley and actor-director Ron Howard, on March 2, 1981. Her paternal grandparents are actors Rance Howard and the late Jean Speegle Howard; her uncle is actor Clint Howard; and her godfather is actor Henry Winkler, who co-starred on Happy Days with her father.Howard and her younger sisters, twins Jocelyn Carlyle Howard and Paige Carlyle Howard (born 1985), and their younger brother, Reed Cross Howard (born 1987), were named after the places they were conceived. All of the Howard children were raised away from the world of show business. Their parents did not allow them access to television and instead encouraged outdoor activities and hobbies. At the age of 7, however, she was allowed to be an extra in her father's movies. In an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Howard mentioned that she and her siblings were babysat by family friend Tom Cruise on several occasions. She was raised in Westchester, New York and on a farm in Greenwich, Connecticut.Howard attended Stagedoor Manor, a performing arts camp in upstate New York, with actress Natalie Portman. After graduating from high school, she studied at New York University's (NYU) Tisch School of the Arts for three years, during which time she also attended the Stella Adler Conservatory, The Experimental Wing, and International Theatre Wing in Amsterdam. During her schooling, she took part in the concept recording of the Broadway-bound musical A Tale of Two Cities. She graduated with her BFA in Drama in 2003. Howard is also an alumna of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company's School at Steppenwolf in Chicago, and of The Actors Center in New York City. During her time in New York, Howard was also a member of downtown theater company Theater Mitu, in residence at New York Theatre Workshop, who are known for their exploration of theatrical forms. When she had applied to drama schools she dropped her last name to avoid special treatment because of her father. She later had second thoughts because her first and middle name combined made her sound like a porn star.
Personal life
On June 17, 2006, Howard married fellow actor Seth Gabel, with whom she now lives in Hollywood, California. The two met at New York University and dated for five years. She had only one previous boyfriend and claims to have pursued Gabel vigorously after first meeting him. They had planned to start a family together in their 30s. However, seven days after their wedding, she learned that she was expecting their first child. Howard gave birth to their child, a son named Theodore Norman Howard-Gabel, nicknamed Theo, on February 16, 2007. Theo's godfather is actor Josh Gad. Howard later admitted to suffering from post-partum depression. Howard had difficulty breast-feeding, which she found to be more painful than experiencing natural child birth and would often cry in the shower. Rather than refer to her son by his name, she would call him "it". Feeling overwhelmed and unable to make decisions, Howard also felt not only disconnected from her husband and baby, but herself as well. With the combination of homeopathic treatments and sessions with a physician and a therapist, she overcame the depression, which lasted for about 18 months. Howard said of the depression in 2010,"Do I wish I had never endured post-partum depression? Absolutely. But to deny the experience is to deny who I am. I still mourn the loss of what could have been, but I also feel deep gratitude for those who stood by me, for the lesson that we must never be afraid to ask for help, and for the feeling of summer that still remains."Howard gave birth to the couple's second child, daughter Beatrice Jean Howard-Gabel, on January 19, 2012.
Howard became a devoted vegan when Joaquin Phoenix, a co-star in The Village, showed her a documentary on animal cruelty called Earthlings. However, in August 2006, Howard announced that she had switched her diet from vegan to vegetarian in order to help boost her amino acid levels in preparation for her pregnancy. Due to a rare medical condition she developed after her pregnancy, she now eats meat.She is also slightly superstitious.
During her senior year of high school, Howard learned of and fell in love with existentialism. "I was like, 'This is it! This is my religion.' I had never felt a connection to any sort of spirituality before that. It was very basic - you're responsible for the choices that you make - but it was mind-blowing at the time." Her hobby is writing and she is good friends with Kirsten Dunst, Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal. Howard has said that she gets "freaked out" by "the Hollywood scene" and has never had a sip of alcohol in her entire life. She credits seeing the negative effects of alcoholism in her family as the reason behind the decision. "When I was in high school, I would never go to parties because I would be embarrassed to say no. Consequently, I had almost no social group," Howard recalled.
Fun Facts
Niece of actor Clint Howard.
Granddaughter of actor Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard.
Is close friends with Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Her godfather is Henry Winkler, who co-starred on "Happy Days" (1974) with her father, Ron Howard.
Was cast in The Village (2004) without having an audition after M. Night Shyamalan saw her in a Broadway show.
Until recently, had not seen an episode of "Happy Days" (1974), in which her father starred. However, in early 2006, she bought the DVD release of the show and now understands its continuing appeal.
Attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts camp with Natalie Portman.
Alumna of the prestigious School at Steppenwolf training program.
Her Theatre credits include a vast range from classical to contemporary writers such as William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov and George Bernard Shaw.
Graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama (2003)
Stepgranddaughter of Judy Howard.
Daughter of actor-director Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard.
During rehearsals at the Manhattan Theater Club, she was billing herself as "Bryce Dallas" but later had second thoughts because the name made her sound like a porn star.
Is a vegan turned vegetarian.
Attended New York University.
Bryce and her husband, Seth Gabel, became the parents of their first child, a boy, Theodore Norman Howard Gabel, on February 16, 2007. He is called Theo.
Has 3 siblings: Reed Cross Howard and the twins Paige Howard and Jocelyn Carlyle Howard. All 4 were named after places in which they were conceived.
Dyed her hair blonde for Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Along with the rest of the cast of The Village (2004) she was put through a 19th century "boot camp" in order for them to get a good feel for the time period.
The actor who plays the photographer during the crane accident scene in Spider-Man 3 (2007) performed magic for her at a birthday party when she was in the second grade.
Was a huge fan of the Terminator franchise before she was cast in the series fourth chapter - Terminator Salvation (2009).
Performed her own stunts during the crane accident scene in Spider-Man 3 (2007), unaware that she was pregnant at the time of filming.
Returned to work six months after giving birth to her son Theo in order to begin filming The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008).
Good friends with Jason Ritter and Marianna Palka.
Granddaughter of actor Rance Howard and Jean Speegle Howard.
Is close friends with Natalie Portman and Jake Gyllenhaal.
Her godfather is Henry Winkler, who co-starred on "Happy Days" (1974) with her father, Ron Howard.
Was cast in The Village (2004) without having an audition after M. Night Shyamalan saw her in a Broadway show.
Until recently, had not seen an episode of "Happy Days" (1974), in which her father starred. However, in early 2006, she bought the DVD release of the show and now understands its continuing appeal.
Attended Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts camp with Natalie Portman.
Alumna of the prestigious School at Steppenwolf training program.
Her Theatre credits include a vast range from classical to contemporary writers such as William Shakespeare, Anton Chekhov and George Bernard Shaw.
Graduated from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts with a BFA in Drama (2003)
Stepgranddaughter of Judy Howard.
Daughter of actor-director Ron Howard and Cheryl Howard.
During rehearsals at the Manhattan Theater Club, she was billing herself as "Bryce Dallas" but later had second thoughts because the name made her sound like a porn star.
Is a vegan turned vegetarian.
Attended New York University.
Bryce and her husband, Seth Gabel, became the parents of their first child, a boy, Theodore Norman Howard Gabel, on February 16, 2007. He is called Theo.
Has 3 siblings: Reed Cross Howard and the twins Paige Howard and Jocelyn Carlyle Howard. All 4 were named after places in which they were conceived.
Dyed her hair blonde for Spider-Man 3 (2007).
Along with the rest of the cast of The Village (2004) she was put through a 19th century "boot camp" in order for them to get a good feel for the time period.
The actor who plays the photographer during the crane accident scene in Spider-Man 3 (2007) performed magic for her at a birthday party when she was in the second grade.
Was a huge fan of the Terminator franchise before she was cast in the series fourth chapter - Terminator Salvation (2009).
Performed her own stunts during the crane accident scene in Spider-Man 3 (2007), unaware that she was pregnant at the time of filming.
Returned to work six months after giving birth to her son Theo in order to begin filming The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond (2008).
Good friends with Jason Ritter and Marianna Palka.
Quotes
I've always had the
perspective that roles come into my life when I need them most and sort
of teach me lessons. The same can be true of films, films are released
into society to aid in a lesson, inspire people, comfort people.
Right now as an artist, what I want to do is be a part of works that are unignorable. I couldn't be less interested in how people receive it, honestly. As long as it's unignorable.
I feel like I almost didn't grow up in the business, because my parents worked so hard at sheltering us from that. I was raised in Connecticut. And I honestly wasn't aware that my dad was a celebrity until I moved to Los Angeles a year ago.
"I've learned to think in terms of having a long career. Actors can have very long careers that last until the day we die, but there will be moments when you'll feel like you're a failure or when you're disappointed in yourself. I've learned from my dad that those feelings don't mean you should stop what you're doing. They mean you should try even harder; you should push even further. Perhaps because of failure, you're getting even closer to your ultimate goal."
On her famous dad: "My dad's more three-dimensional than Opie Taylor or Richie Cunningham. He even has a temper! He's a real person. But some people are disappointed by that."
Right now as an artist, what I want to do is be a part of works that are unignorable. I couldn't be less interested in how people receive it, honestly. As long as it's unignorable.
I feel like I almost didn't grow up in the business, because my parents worked so hard at sheltering us from that. I was raised in Connecticut. And I honestly wasn't aware that my dad was a celebrity until I moved to Los Angeles a year ago.
"I've learned to think in terms of having a long career. Actors can have very long careers that last until the day we die, but there will be moments when you'll feel like you're a failure or when you're disappointed in yourself. I've learned from my dad that those feelings don't mean you should stop what you're doing. They mean you should try even harder; you should push even further. Perhaps because of failure, you're getting even closer to your ultimate goal."
On her famous dad: "My dad's more three-dimensional than Opie Taylor or Richie Cunningham. He even has a temper! He's a real person. But some people are disappointed by that."
Filmography
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | Parenthood | Redheaded Girl in Audience | Extra |
| 1995 | Apollo 13 | Girl in Yellow Dress | Extra |
| 2000 | How the Grinch Stole Christmas | Surprised Who | Extra |
| 2004 | Book of Love | Heather | |
| 2004 | The Village | Ivy Elizabeth Walker | |
| 2005 | Manderlay | Grace Margaret Mulligan | |
| 2006 | As You Like It | Rosalind | Television film |
| 2006 | Lady in the Water | Story | |
| 2006 | Orchids | Co-writer, director | Short film, directorial debut |
| 2007 | Spider-Man 3 | Gwen Stacy | |
| 2008 | Good Dick | Kissing Woman | Cameo |
| 2009 | Terminator Salvation | Kate Connor | |
| 2009 | The Loss of a Teardrop Diamond | Fisher Willow | |
| 2010 | The Twilight Saga: Eclipse | Victoria | |
| 2010 | Hereafter | Melanie | |
| 2011 | The Help | Hilly Holbrook | |
| 2011 | 50/50 | Rachael |
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