
Neva Howell
Biography
Neva attended acting school in New York and spent a few years in Los Angeles, where she studies with some terrific teachers like Stephen Tobolowsky and Lisa Dalton. She also completed round one of The Groundlings training with Patrick Bristow. Though Neva attended many classes during her stay, she considers these three to be highlights of her time in Los Angeles.
Appeared as Ma Kent in Superman (2025). Before that, she played Ms. Crawford in Greedy People (2024) and the gruff Miss Roberts in Ghosts of the Ozarks (2021). In addition, Neva was a rather racist clerk named Gina in Burden (2018), which won Audience Award, dramatic, at Sundance 2018. Neva has enjoyed a wide range of mostly small town characters in her 30+ year career. She was Salt-of-the-earth Alma in Mercy Street (2016). She can be heard delivering an inside Steven Soderbergh joke (subtle, did you catch it?) in Logan (2017). She worried about a boy and a pig in Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul (2017) and appeared as an impatient bus driver with in episode 5 of the final season of The Originals (2013). Mean nurses seemed a theme for a while, including Martha in Run the Race (2018) and Dee Dee in The Common Good (2017). However, Neva loves comedy. She is Sister Eleanor in Novitiate (2017) and the hard-nosed waitress in The King Has Left the Building (2016).
Neva loves bringing life to small, interesting parts. It's like polishing a little diamond in a big necklace of precious gems. Neva's passions include holistic health and wellness education. She was a full-time healing facilitator for many years. She looks at life through a spiritual lens. Her greatest desire for her career is that she be invited to inhabit roles in films that want to make a positive difference on earth. That being said, she knows illuminating what's negative is sometimes a strong route to understanding and positive shift.
Known For

TV
The Resident
Sour Apple
2018

TV
The Originals
Bus Driver
2013

Film
Superman
Ma Kent
2025

TV
9-1-1: Nashville
MeeMaw
2025

TV
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
Alien Abduction Woman
2004

Film
Logan Lucky
Woman on the News #1
2017

Film
Greedy People
Ms. Crawford
2024

Film
Novitiate
Sister Eleanor
2017

Film
October Sky
Neighbor
1999

Film
Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul
Farmer Lady
2017

Film
My Fellow Americans
Charlene, Budget Agent
1996

Film
Billy: The Early Years
Shea's Secretary
2008

Film
A Good Baby
Woman at Mailboxes
2000

Film
Run the Race
Martha
2019

Film
Ghosts of the Ozarks
Miss Roberts
2022

Film
The Nobodies
2018
Filmography
2025TV9-1-1: Nashvilleas MeeMaw2025FilmSupermanas Ma Kent2024FilmGreedy Peopleas Ms. Crawford2022FilmGhosts of the Ozarksas Miss Roberts2019FilmRun the Raceas Martha2018FilmThe Nobodies2018TVThe Residentas Sour Apple2017FilmNovitiateas Sister Eleanor2017FilmLogan Luckyas Woman on the News #12017FilmDiary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haulas Farmer Lady2013TVThe Originalsas Bus Driver2008FilmBilly: The Early Yearsas Shea's Secretary2004TVNed's Declassified School Survival Guideas Alien Abduction Woman2000FilmA Good Babyas Woman at Mailboxes1999FilmOctober Skyas Neighbor1996FilmMy Fellow Americansas Charlene, Budget Agent