Jamie Campbell Bower | |
|---|---|
 Bower in 2013 | |
| Born | James Metcalfe Campbell Bower (1988-11-22)22 November 1988 (age 37) London, England |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2007–present |
| Partner(s) | Bonnie Wright (2009–2012) Lily Collins (2012–2018) Elena Taber (2025–present) |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | |
| Instruments |
|
| Years active | 2007–present |
| Labels | |
| Member of | BloodMagic |
| Formerly of | Counterfeit |
Musical artist | |
James Metcalfe Campbell Bower (born 22 November 1988) is an English actor, singer, and musician. He is best known for his role asHenry Creel / Vecna in thefourth (2022) andfifth (2025) seasons of the science fiction horror seriesStranger Things, for which he received critical acclaim.
Bower's other roles include the filmsSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007),The Twilight Saga (2009–2012), and the youngGellert Grindelwald inHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 (2010) andFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald (2018), as well as the fantasy seriesCamelot (2011) and drama seriesWill (2017).
Outside of acting, Bower was the lead singer and guitarist of the punk rock bandCounterfeit from 2015 to 2020, when he left to pursue a solo career. In 2024, he formed a new band called BloodMagic.
James Metcalfe Campbell Bower[1] was born inLondon on 22 November 1988,[2] the son of Anne Elizabeth Roseberry and David Bower.[3] His mother is a music manager and his father works for theGibson Guitar Corporation.[4] He is the maternal great-great-great-great-grandson of Scottish lawyerSir John Campbell of Airds (1807–1853), Lieutenant Governor ofSaint Vincent and the Grenadines.[5][6] His younger brother, Samuel (born 1994), later played with him in the bandCounterfeit.[7]
Bower has had an interest in music and performance from a young age. He started playing the violin as a child, which he was taught using theSuzuki method.[8] He attendedBedales School, a co-educationalindependent school inSteep, Hampshire, and is a former member of London'sNational Youth Music Theatre andNational Youth Theatre.[2]
Bower began his professional career when his friendLaura Michelle Kelly recommended him to her agent. In 2007, he co-starred as Anthony Hope inTim Burton'sSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.[9] In 2008, he played Rocker in the filmRocknRolla and Jack inWinter in Wartime.[10] In 2009, he starred in the2009 remake of the seriesThe Prisoner as Number 11–12.[11]
Also in 2009, he played the vampire Caius Volturi in the filmThe Twilight Saga: New Moon and bothTwilight: Breaking Dawn films.[12] He appeared as a youngGellert Grindelwald (the dark wizard defeated byAlbus Dumbledore) in the 2010 filmHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1; he reprised this role in the 2018 filmFantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald. He playedKing Arthur in the 2011 television seriesCamelot.[13] In 2010, he starred in the music video for "Young (Belane)" byThe Xcerts.
In 2012, Bower appeared in the music video for "Never Let Me Go" byFlorence + The Machine.[14] He playedJace Wayland inThe Mortal Instruments: City of Bones, the 2013 film adaptation ofThe Mortal Instruments series byCassandra Clare. In June 2015, he began playing the role of Joe in theWest End musicalBend It Like Beckham.
In July 2017, Bower joined the TNT original seriesWill. He played the role of gay poet, atheist, and spyChristopher Marlowe, who was jealous of Shakespeare.[15] Christopher is preoccupied with death, the supernatural, and the occult.[16] Bower explained that the series delves into Marlowe's life and refers to him as a naughty boy.[17]
In January 2019, Bower was announced to star in aGame of Thrones prequel series titledBloodmoon, butHBO later decided not to pick it up. He starred in the 2019 filmSix Days of Sistine, distributed by Mbur Indie Film Distributor and co-starringElarica Johnson. Since 2015, Bower has voiced Skiff in theThomas & Friends franchise, having contributed to thetelevision show, two home videos, and the feature filmSodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure.
Bower starred asHenry Creel / Vecna in thefourth (2022) andfifth (2025) seasons of theNetflix science fiction horror seriesStranger Things. Having make-up applied for the role took up to eight hours per day.[18] His performance in the series garnered critical acclaim and became his most widely known role.[19][20][21] In December 2025, he reprised the role for a surprise appearance in the final scene of the playStranger Things: The First Shadow, marking hisBroadway debut.[22][23]
Bower played drums in a band called William K.[24] He was then the lead singer of the band The Darling Buds, which never released an album and dissolved in June 2015.[25][26] He became the lead singer and guitarist for the punk rock bandCounterfeit, which released its first album in March 2017 and toured the US that year. In November 2020, Bower announced the band's split through theirInstagram page. The band had a second album recorded before the split, which was never released.[27] He released music as a solo artist shortly after.[28]
When Counterfeit disbanded, Bower said he felt sadness and grief. He also said he likes writing country songs because of their structure: "As far back as I can remember, whenever I picked up a microphone, it was harder for me to sing wholly in a British accent than to just wail away and drop my Ts or bend notes so it almost sounds American."[29] He also said that he would like to create a musical project inspired by theDivine Comedy, especiallyDante's Inferno.[30] Bower is abaritone.[31]
On 1 April 2024, Bower announced the formation of a new band called BloodMagic. He also deleted all his photos from Instagram and created a new account named after the band, featuring drummer Kyle Adams.[32][33][34]
At the beginning of his acting career, Bower was a part-time model withSelect Model Management in London.[9] He has posed and offered testimonials for various fashion brands. In December 2013, he joined the cast ofBurberry's Campaign Stars for spring/summer 2014;[35] in 2016, he posed forDolce & Gabbana;[36] andDior,[37] in 2017, he posed forHugo Boss's fall/winter campaign;[38] in 2018, he modelled forFendi,[39][40] as well as in a photoshoot forFlaunt Magazine with modelErika Linder;[41][42] in February 2024, during theMilan Fashion Week, he paraded forTom Ford;[43] and in September 2025, he modelled forCartier andAnn Demeulemeester.[44] In 2025, he also posed for aHugo Boss campaign in collaboration withFormula One.[45] Bower is also a testimonial forSaint Laurent.[46]
In a 2019 interview, Bower namedPlacebo,Deftones,Blur,Oasis, andMarilyn Manson as influences on his music career.[47] In a 2022 interview, he citedThe Cure as his greatest inspiration during his solo career, especially their albumPornography, and alsoblack metal artists such asSunn O))),Mayhem,Darkthrone, andCarpathian Forest, particularly when preparing for his role inStranger Things.[48][49] He also said that another inspiration for the same role was thePlacebo cover ofKate Bush's song "Running Up That Hill", the original of which plays a large role in the storylines of the seasons in which he appears.[50]
Bower splits his time betweenLondon andLos Angeles.[51]
In February 2010, Bower was confirmed to be dating English actressBonnie Wright, whom he had met on the set ofHarry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. They confirmed their engagement in April 2011,[52] but announced that they had amicably split up in June 2012.[53]
From 2012 to 2018, Bower was in an on-off relationship with English-American actressLily Collins.[54]
In 2025, Bower began dating social media personality Elena Taber.[55]
In a December 2007 interview, Bower revealed that he has milddyslexia.[56][57]
Bower has often discussed his past struggles withalcoholism andmental health issues.[58] He said in September 2019, "I'm in recovery, so one of the first things that they teach you when you're in recovery is to be super honest about what it is that you're feeling, like guilt, shame, fear, sadness, whatever it is, the most important thing is, and it's the hardest thing to do, is just express exactly what it is that you're feeling." His band Counterfeit also released the song "It Gets Better" about the topic.[59]
In July 2022, Bower wrote onTwitter, "12 and a half years ago I was in active addiction. Hurting myself and those around me who I loved the most. It got so bad that eventually I ended up in ahospital for mental health. I am now 7 1/2 years clean and sober. I have made many mistakes in my life [but] each day is a chance to start again. Atone for mistakes and grow. For anyone who wakes up thinking 'oh god not again' I promise you there's a way. I'm so grateful to be where I am, I'm so grateful to be sober. I'm so grateful to be. Remember, we are all works in progress."[60][61] He was priased by mental health organizations such asTurning Point andHigh Watch Recovery Center.[62][63][64]
In September 2022, Bower said that he grew up withanxiety and that he used alcohol to relieve his fears and insecurities. He also stated that he suffered from what he called "spiritual malady" during addiction, and that he would never have thought of detoxing at the age of 27.[65] In an interview withla Repubblica two months later, he said, "The great thing is that healing begins just when you realize that nothing can be controlled, and you start to let go. When you understand that by expressing yourself with fragility, instead of worsening, the opinion of others towards you increases, and the knowledge of others also improves. I had lost connection with my voice, with beauty, with spirituality."[66]
| † | Denotes film or TV productions that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Anthony Hope | ||
| 2008 | RocknRolla | Rocker | ||
| Winter in Wartime | Jack | |||
| 2009 | The Twilight Saga: New Moon | Caius | ||
| 2010 | Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1 | Young Gellert Grindelwald | ||
| London Boulevard | Whiteboy | |||
| 2011 | Anonymous | Young Earl Oxford | ||
| The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 1 | Caius | |||
| 2012 | The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 | |||
| 2013 | The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones | Jace Wayland | ||
| 2015 | Thomas & Friends: Sodor's Legend of the Lost Treasure | Skiff (voice) | ||
| 2016 | Caer | A Man | Short film | [67] |
| 2018 | Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald | Young Gellert Grindelwald | [68] | |
| 2019 | Six Days of Sistine | Jean-Baptiste | [69] | |
| 2024 | Horizon: An American Saga | Caleb Sykes | [70] | |
| Witchboard | Alexander Babtiste | [71] | ||
| Emmanuelle | Sir John | [72] | ||
| TBA | True Haunting† | Ed Becker | Post-production | [73] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2007 | The Dinner Party | Douglas | Television film | |
| 2009 | The Prisoner | 11–12 | 6 episodes | |
| 2011 | Camelot | King Arthur | 10 episodes | [74] |
| 2015–2020 | Thomas & Friends | Skiff | Voice; 6 episodes | [74] |
| 2017 | Will | Christopher Marlowe | 10 episodes | |
| 2019 | Urban Myths | Mick Jagger | Episode: "Mick Jagger and Princess Margaret" | [75] |
| 2022–2025 | Stranger Things | Henry Creel / One / Vecna | Main role (seasons 4–5) | [76] |
| TBA | The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power | TBA | Main role (season 3) | [77] |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Honk! | Royal National Theatre London, England | [78] | ||
| 2001 | The Dreaming | Yvonne Arnaud Theatre Guildford, England | [79] | ||
| George Square Theatre London, England | |||||
| Edinburgh Fringe Festival Edinburgh, Scotland | |||||
| 2015 | Bend It Like Beckham | Joe | Phoenix Theatre London, England | [80] | |
| 2025 | Stranger Things: The First Shadow | Henry Creel | Marquis Theatre New York, United States | One time cameo | [81] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Stranger Things VR | Vecna / Henry Creel | [82] |
| Year | Artist | Title | Role | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | The Xcerts | "Young (Belane)" | Fan | [83] |
| 2012 | Florence and the Machine | "Never Let Me Go" | Love interest | [84] |
| Year | Released | Title | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 2 December | "Paralysed" | Prologue (Live from the Alter) |
| 9 December | "Start the Fire" | ||
| 2022 | 14 April | "Crow" | Non-album singles |
| 27 May | "Run On"[85] (feat. King Sugar) | ||
| "Devil In Me" | |||
| 12 August | "I Am" | ||
| 2023 | 20 October | "Heaven In Your Eyes" (feat. Tom Yankton & Mikey Demus) | Non-album singles |
| 29 November | "Watch Em Burn" | ||
| "Wait For Me" |
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | National Movie Awards | One to Watch: Brits Going Global | Anonymous | Won | [86] |
| 2014 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice Movie Actor: Action | The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones | Nominated | [87] |
| 2023 | Critics' Choice Super Awards | Best Villain in a Series | Stranger Things | Nominated | [88] |
| MTV Movie & TV Awards | Best Villain | Nominated | [89] | ||
| Best Fight(shared withMillie Bobby Brown) | Nominated |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| People | |
| Other | |
