Harry Styles

Harry Styles was born on February 1, 1994, in Redditch, England, and grew up in Holmes Chapel, Cheshire. His career changed in 2010 when he auditioned as a solo singer for the British television competition *The X Factor*, performing Stevie Wonder’s “Isn’t She Lovely.” Although he did not advance as a solo contestant, the show brought him together with Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson to form One Direction. The group finished third and became one of the decade’s biggest pop acts.

One Direction released five studio albums between 2011 and 2015, beginning with *Up All Night* and ending with *Made in the A.M.* Hits including “What Makes You Beautiful,” “Story of My Life” and “Drag Me Down” helped build an international audience. After the band went on hiatus, Styles began releasing music under his own name. His debut single, the piano-led “Sign of the Times,” arrived in 2017, followed by his self-titled album that May. Its rock-influenced sound marked a departure from much of One Direction’s catalog.

His second album, *Fine Line*, appeared in 2019. It included “Adore You” and “Watermelon Sugar,” the latter becoming his first number-one single on the Billboard Hot 100. “Watermelon Sugar” also won the Grammy Award for Best Pop Solo Performance in 2021. Styles followed it with *Harry’s House* in 2022. Its lead single, “As It Was,” spent 15 weeks atop the Hot 100, while the album won Album of the Year and Best Pop Vocal Album at the 2023 Grammys. His Love On Tour concert series, which began in 2021 and ended in 2023, included extended runs at New York’s Madison Square Garden and the Kia Forum near Los Angeles.

Styles has also worked in film. Christopher Nolan cast him as the soldier Alex in the 2017 war drama *Dunkirk*. In 2022, he played Jack Chambers in *Don’t Worry Darling* and Tom Burgess in *My Policeman*. He made a brief appearance as Eros in a scene following the credits of Marvel’s *Eternals* in 2021.

Beyond recordings and acting, Styles has drawn attention for fashion choices that challenge conventional menswear. He appeared alone on the December 2020 cover of American *Vogue*, becoming the first man to do so, photographed wearing a Gucci dress. In 2021, he launched Pleasing, a brand that initially offered nail polish and skincare products. Together, these projects show the range of work he has pursued since his first televised audition.