{{short description|New Zealand comedian and actor}} {{Use New Zealand English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox person | name = Abby Howells | image = Abby Howells at the 2025 Edinburgh Festival Fringe-05 (cropped).jpg | caption = Howells at the 2025 [[Edinburgh Festival Fringe]] | birth_name = Abigail Mai Howells | birth_date = {{birth based on age as of date|33|2024|6|8}} | birth_place = [[Dunedin]], [[New Zealand]] | death_date = | death_place = | education = [[University of Otago]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]], [[Doctor of Philosophy|PhD]])<br>[[Victoria University of Wellington]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]]) | awards = [[Billy T Award]] (2023) }} '''Abigail Mai Howells'''<ref name="howells-prison"/> is a New Zealand comedian, actor, and writer. She was the winner of the [[Billy T Award]] in 2023.
==Early life and education== Howells was born in and grew up in [[Dunedin]], New Zealand.<ref name="bt-1news-23"/><ref name="post-apr-24"/> She attended an all-girls high school, where she acted in school productions of ''The Wizard of Oz'' as the Cowardly Lion and in ''[[Seussical]]'' as Horton the Elephant.<ref name="metro-howells-24">{{cite web |last1=Howells |first1=Abby |title=It's the Lion's Show, Baby |url=https://www.metromag.co.nz/arts/arts-theatre/its-the-lions-show-baby |publisher=Metro |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=22 February 2024}}</ref>
She received a [[bachelor of arts]] in film and media studies from the [[University of Otago]], and a masters in creative writing (specifically [[screenwriting]]<ref name="post-apr-24">{{cite web |last1=Stephenson |first1=Sharon |title=Aroha: The love story behind this comedy power couple |url=https://www.thepost.co.nz/culture/350257114/aroha-love-story-behind-comedy-power-couple |publisher=The Post |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=26 April 2024}}</ref>) from [[Victoria University of Wellington]]'s [[International Institute of Modern Letters]] in 2014. At Victoria, she wrote the screenplay ''Standing Up'', which won the Brad McGann Award.<ref name="lc-howells">{{cite web |last1=Howells |first1=Abby |title=Loose Canons: Abby Howells |url=https://www.pantograph-punch.com/posts/loose-canons-abby-howells |publisher=The Pantograph Punch |date=14 September 2018}}</ref>
Howells completed a [[PhD]] in theatre studies from the [[University of Otago]];<ref name="odt-stills-23"/> her thesis, titled "Performing Prison: How Is Life on the Inside Portrayed to the Outside World?",<ref name="howells-prison">{{cite thesis |last1=Howells |first1=Abigail Mai |date=2021 |title=Performing Prison: How Is Life on the Inside Portrayed to the Outside World? |url=https://hdl.handle.net/10523/12714|type=PhD thesis|publisher=OUR Archive, [[University of Otago]]|hdl=10523/12714 }}</ref> explored how incarcerated women are portrayed in film and television.<ref name="odt-fox-19">{{cite web |last1=Fox |first1=Rebecca |title=Empowering women inspiring |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/fringe/empowering-women-inspiring |publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=21 March 2019}}</ref>
==Career== Howells was a founding member of Discharge, a female comedy collective.<ref name="stone-16">{{cite web |last1=Stone |first1=Elsie |title=Meet the Female Comedy Collective Bringing Period Jokes to the Mainstream |url=https://cataloguemagazine.com.au/feature/meet-the-female-comedy-collective-bringing-period-jokes-to-the-mainstream |publisher=Catalogue Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304140451/https://cataloguemagazine.com.au/feature/meet-the-female-comedy-collective-bringing-period-jokes-to-the-mainstream |archive-date=4 Mar 2016 |date=17 February 2016 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="lc-howells"/> She served as head writer for the group, penning the shows ''What is This? Woman's Hour?'' (2012),<ref name="mcbryde">{{cite web |last1=McBryde |first1=Angus |title=What Is This, Women's Hour? (2012) |url=https://www.angusmcbryde.com/womenshour}}</ref> ''Benedict Cumberbatch Must Die'' (2014),<ref name="theatreview-28">{{cite web |title=28 Days: A Period Piece |url=https://www.theatreview.org.nz/production/28-days-a-period-piece/ |publisher=Theatreview}}</ref> and ''28 Days: A Period Piece'' (2015).<ref name="lc-howells"/><ref name="stuff-mckee"/>
In 2014, Howells wrote ''Crossbow Cat'', which won the Auckland Festival's Judges' Choice and People's Choice awards, and [[audio play]] ''The Crash'' in 2015, which aired on [[Radio New Zealand]].<ref name="token-24">{{cite web |title=Abby Howells |url=https://token.com.au/artist/abby-howells/ |publisher=Token |access-date=2 December 2024}}</ref>
She presented her solo show ''Glocknid: Dwarf Warrior'' in 2014, which won the Best Newcomer Award at the 2015 Wellington International Comedy Festival.<ref name="lc-howells"/><ref name="daly-ensemble-23">{{cite web |last1=Daly |first1=Lara |title=Hey Abby Howells, I like your retro-inspired hair |url=https://www.ensemblemagazine.co.nz/articles/abby-howells-i-like-your-hair |publisher=Ensemble |date=15 May 2023}}</ref> She portrayed Beatrix in Trick of the Light Theatre's ''Beards Beards Beards'', which toured the United Kingdom,<ref name="stuff-mckee">{{cite web |last1=McKee |first1=Hannah |title=Abby Howells faces up to young roles |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/entertainment/stage-and-theatre/67441212/abby-howells-faces-up-to-young-roles |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=19 March 2015}}</ref> and her play ''Attila the Hun'' was part of the 2017 Young and Hungry Festival.<ref name="lc-howells"/> In 2018 she performed ''White Men'' at the [[Dunedin Fringe Festival]].<ref name="token-24"/> Howells acted in ''Fold'' by [[Jo Randerson]] in 2018, and ''[[The Bald Soprano]]'' in 2019.<ref name="odt-fold">{{cite web |title=Entitled narcissists target of absurdist satirical 'Fold' |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/entertainment/theatre/entitled-narcissists-target-absurdist-satirical-fold |publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=1 March 2018}}</ref><ref name="stuff-black-19">{{cite web |last1=Black |first1=Eleanor |title=At home with a Dunedin theatre couple |url=https://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/homed/houses/112466295/at-home-with-a-dunedin-theatre-couple |publisher=[[Stuff (website)|Stuff]] |date=19 May 2019}}</ref>
After starting stand-up in her 20s, Howells quit comedy for seven years following sexual harassment from another comedian and bad experiences with on-stage harassment;<ref name="bt-1news-23"/><ref name="bevan-23">{{cite web |last1=Bevan |first1=Darren |title=Guy Montgomery and Abby Howells win top prizes at 2023 NZ International Comedy Festival |url=https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/05/guy-montgomery-and-abby-howells-win-top-prizes-at-2023-nz-international-comedy-festival.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529001605/https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/entertainment/2023/05/guy-montgomery-and-abby-howells-win-top-prizes-at-2023-nz-international-comedy-festival.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |publisher=[[Newshub]] |date=29 May 2023}}</ref> during this period she completed her PhD.<ref name="post-apr-24"/>
Howells's show ''HarleQueen'', inspired by her experiences as a woman in comedy, won the Director's Award at the [[New Zealand International Comedy Festival]] in 2021;<ref name="bt-1news-23"/> she also performed the show at [[Edinburgh Fringe]].<ref name="post-apr-24"/> In 2023 at the NZICF, she wrote and performed ''La Soupco'', which is "based on a screenplay Howells wrote when she was 11 years old{{nbsp}}... a post-World War II nautical-themed romance set in Spain for little reason, where the characters don't have names".<ref name="nzh-sills-23"/> For the show, Howells won the [[Billy T Award]].<ref name="bt-1news-23">{{cite web |last1=Thomas |first1=Grace |title=Comedian Abby Howells takes home prestigious Billy T Award |url=https://www.1news.co.nz/2023/05/30/comedian-abby-howells-takes-home-prestigious-billy-t-award/ |publisher=[[1News]] |date=30 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="odt-stills-23">{{cite web |last1=Stills |first1=Ethan |title='Exciting' award win after industry harassment |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/%E2%80%98exciting%E2%80%99-award-win-after-industry-harassment |publisher=[[Otago Daily Times]] |date=30 May 2023}}</ref><ref name="bevan-23"/><ref name="daly-ensemble-23"/><ref name="nzh-stent">{{cite web |title=Billy T' Billy: Brynley Stent hands the yellow towel to 2023 comedy award winner Abby Howells |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/billy-t-billy-brynley-stent-hands-the-yellow-towel-to-2023-winner-abby-howells/VOXVJGWH4VE2LCWPSDT6QBZZDU/ |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=31 May 2023}}</ref> The ''[[New Zealand Herald]]'' wrote that ''La Soupco'' "strikes a wonderful balance between a theatrical concept and traditional stand-up".<ref name="nzh-sills-23">{{cite web |last1=Sills |first1=Ethan |title=Billy T 2023 nominees reviewed: Abby Howells, Gabby Anderson, Jack Ansett, Janaye Henry and Maria Williams |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/billy-t-2023-nominees-reviewed-abby-howells-gabby-anderson-jack-ansett-janaye-henry-and-maria-williams/CMQRGKJICFAJLDUPL7WC5DIT6A/ |publisher=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |access-date=27 August 2023 |date=25 May 2023}}</ref>
In 2024, Howells and [[Angella Dravid]] formed an improv group called The Improfessionals and performed at the NZICF.<ref name="ahad-nzicf-2024">{{cite web |title=Abby Howells & Angella Dravid - The Improfessionals |url=https://www.comedyfestival.co.nz/find-a-show/the-improfessionals/ |publisher=New Zealand International Comedy Festival |access-date=22 May 2024}}</ref>
On television, Howells has appeared on ''[[7 Days (New Zealand game show)|7 Days]],'' ''[[Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee]]'', ''[[Shortland Street]]'', and ''[[Taskmaster New Zealand]]''.<ref name="post-apr-24"/><ref name="spinoff-tm-24">{{cite news |title='The enjoyment of human folly': Abby Howells on the beauty of Taskmaster |url=https://thespinoff.co.nz/pop-culture/03-08-2024/the-enjoyment-of-human-folly-abby-howells-on-the-beauty-of-taskmaster |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=[[The Spinoff]] |date=3 August 2024}}</ref><ref name="capsule-24">{{cite web |last1=Hampson |first1=Alice |title=How Are You Today, Abby Howells? NZ's Best New Comedian Talks Life on the Autism Spectrum, Sexual Harassment & Giving Your Dream Another Shot |url=https://capsulenz.com/featured/how-are-you-today-abby-howells/ |publisher=Capsule NZ |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=5 August 2024}}</ref> She also acted in the [[Netflix]] film ''[[The Royal Treatment (film)|The Royal Treatment]]'' (2022).<ref name="token-24"/> In the 2020s, she appeared in the episode "New Zealand" of the second season of ''[[Conan O'Brien Must Go]]'', and was a writer on the sixth series of ''Taskmaster{{nbsp}}NZ'' and the third series of ''[[Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee (Australian TV series)|Guy Montgomery's Guy Mont-Spelling Bee]]'' (AU).<ref name="smh-lal-26">{{cite news |last1=Low |first1=Lenny Ann |title=‘I’m bringing my own essential oils’: Meet Guy Montgomery’s new Spelling Bee sidekick |url=https://www.smh.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/i-m-bringing-my-own-essential-oils-meet-guy-montgomery-s-new-spelling-bee-sidekick-20260428-p5zrrh.html |work=[[The Sydney Morning Herald]] |date=29 April 2026}}</ref><ref name="tm-s6-e1">{{cite AV media |date=18 August 2025 |title=Taskmaster New Zealand, series 6, episode 1 |location= |publisher=TVNZ 2 |access-date=}}</ref> She played the role of Isabelle in the 2026 television series ''[[New Zealand Spy]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.1news.co.nz/2026/01/14/tvnz-unveils-2026-lineup-10-shows-to-watch-out-for/#|website=1news.co.nz|accessdate=8 February 2026|title= TVNZ unveils 2026 lineup: 10 shows to watch out for|date= Jan 14, 2026}}</ref>
Howells directed the second season of comedy [[podcast]] ''Did Titanic Sink?'', hosted by [[Tim Batt]] and Carlo Ritchie.<ref name="rnz-titanic-24"/> She has been a guest on ''Backyard Stories with Claudia Nankervis'', ''[[No Such Thing as a Fish]]'', and ''[[The Worst Idea of All Time]]''.<ref name="token-24"/>
She has cited ''[[Blackadder]]'' and [[Jerry Seinfeld]] as influences.<ref name="odt-stills-23"/> {{As of|2024}}, Howells is represented by Token.<ref name="token-24"/>
==Personal life== Howells is open about being [[Autism|autistic]], explaining that "It takes the pressure off me a little bit. I can really relax and just be myself{{nbsp}}... I don't have to process everything I do through a 'would a 'normal' person say this?' lens."<ref name="nzh-gray-24">{{cite news |last1=Gray |first1=Sonic |title=No Such Thing as Normal: Autism - is it safe to remove the mask? |url=https://www.nzherald.co.nz/lifestyle/no-such-thing-as-normal-autism-is-it-safe-to-remove-the-mask/GDQXQPDMEBAPJLUXG3YNPLMIG4/ |access-date=2 December 2024 |work=[[The New Zealand Herald]] |date=6 September 2024}}</ref><ref name="hanton-22">{{cite web |last1=Hanton |first1=James |title=HarleQueen |url=https://theweereview.com/review/harlequeen |publisher=The Wee Review |date=13 August 2022}}</ref> She is interested in the [[Sinking of the Titanic|Titanic disaster]].<ref name="rnz-titanic-24">{{cite web |title=Did Titanic Sink? Podcast director Abby Howells on conspiracies and her obsession |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/national/programmes/culture-101/audio/2018950507/did-titanic-sink-podcast-director-abby-howells-on-conspiracies-and-her-obsession |website=Culture 101 |publisher=[[RNZ]] |access-date=2 December 2024 |date=11 August 2024}}</ref>
{{As of|2024}}, Howells is in a relationship with Robbie Nicol.<ref name="post-apr-24"/>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{IMDb name}}
{{Billy T Award}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, Abby}} [[Category:21st-century New Zealand comedians]] [[Category:Contestants on New Zealand game shows]] [[Category:Autistic entertainers]] [[Category:New Zealand autistic people]] [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:New Zealand women comedians]] [[Category:New Zealand dramatists and playwrights]] [[Category:New Zealand people with disabilities]] [[Category:People from Dunedin]] [[Category:University of Otago alumni]] [[Category:Victoria University of Wellington alumni]] [[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]