Photo: Luigi Novi / CC BY 4.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
What strikes me about Cressida Cowell is how a single book series can outgrow its author. How to Train Your Dragon started as her children's books, then DreamWorks turned it into a franchise that probably eclipsed the originals in most people's minds. I respect that she has the bona fides too: an Oxford degree from Keble College, a 2006 Nestle prize, an MBE, and a Royal Society of Literature fellowship. That mix of commercial reach and institutional recognition is rare for a writer who also illustrates. I'd love to know how she feels watching Hiccup belong to the screen now.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Cressida Cowell
- Name (Japanese)
- クレシッダ・コーウェル
- Reading
- くれしっだ・こーうぇる
- Born
- April 15, 1966 (age 60)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Aries / Horse
- Origin
- London, United Kingdom
- Occupation
- writer / children's writer / author / illustrator / visual artist
2. Background
- University
- Keble College
Awards & achievements
- 2006 Nestlé Children's Book Prize
- Member of the Order of the British Empire
- 2021 Fellow of the Royal Society of Literature
4. Personality
Motto
Private
5. Works & records
| Category | Title | Role | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notable work | How to Train Your Dragon | — | |
| Notable work | How to Train Your Dragon | — |
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Cressida Cowell born?
Born April 15, 1966 (age 60).
Where is Cressida Cowell from?
Cressida Cowell is from London, United Kingdom.
What does Cressida Cowell do?
Cressida Cowell works as writer, children's writer, author, illustrator, visual artist.
What is Cressida Cowell known for?
Notable works include How to Train Your Dragon, How to Train Your Dragon.
Writer — see all → · Children's writer — see all → · More people from United Kingdom →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-02
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public or unconfirmed items are omitted. English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.