Bryce Dallas Howard recently opened up about her experience playing the love interest of Joaquin Phoenix in M. Night Shyamalan’s 2004 film, *The Village*. During an episode of the podcast *Podcrushed*, the actress shared that her role was especially meaningful, as she had a childhood crush on Phoenix, which made the experience feel like a dream come true.
Howard, now 44, recounted her early admiration for Phoenix, whom she first noticed as a child actor in the 1989 film *Parenthood*. “I had the biggest crush on Joaquin Phoenix when I was seven years old, and he was Leaf Phoenix,” she said. “And it was insane being like, ‘Oh, you want me to play a character who’s been in love with this guy, like, her whole life? Sure.'” In *The Village*, Howard played Ivy, while Phoenix portrayed her love interest, Lucius.
The casting of Howard was a pivotal moment in her career, as she was selected by Shyamalan after he saw her performance in *As You Like It* at the Public Theater in New York. She described this opportunity as a “career-defining moment” and expressed gratitude for Shyamalan’s courage in casting her. “That was very, I mean, incredibly courageous of Night to cast me, and he was really supportive,” she noted.
Over the years, Howard has built an impressive filmography, starring in notable projects such as *The Help*, *Spider-Man 3*, the *Twilight Saga*, and the *Jurassic World* series. Her most recent film, *Deep Cover*, premiered at the Tribeca Festival on June 10, 2025, and features co-stars Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed, and Sean Bean. The action-comedy centers around Howard’s character, an improv teacher, and two other performers who are hired by an undercover cop to infiltrate London’s underground gang scene.
In addition to her acting career, Howard has embraced motherhood, sharing two children, Theodore Norman, 18, and Beatrice Jean, 13, with her husband Seth Gabel. She acknowledges that parenting can be a challenge, and she has found that her experience in improv comedy has been invaluable in navigating the ups and downs of raising teenagers. “I think improv comedy is an incredible training ground for being a parent because you’re not really going in there with an agenda, per se,” she explained. “You’re there to listen, to respond, to be playful and to hopefully say yes.”
Howard humorously admitted that her children often outsmart her, saying, “The thing that’s tricky with kids is that — I don’t know if it’s an evolutionary thing, I don’t know if it’s just me — but my kids are smarter than me, they’re faster than me, they’re quicker than me.” She believes that improv helps develop the interpersonal skills necessary to find common ground with her children, especially during challenging moments.
Reflecting on her childhood, Howard revealed that she faced difficulties with communication and learning. “I was always very happy and smiley, but not extremely verbal,” she recalled in a recent interview. This background has shaped her approach to parenting and her interactions with her kids.
As Howard continues to balance her career and family life, she remains a beloved figure in Hollywood, known for her talent, authenticity, and warmth. Fans eagerly anticipate her upcoming projects and look forward to seeing how she continues to evolve both as an actress and a mother.
