Ursula Howells
Howells was born in London, the daughter of composer Herbert Howells, and was educated at St Paul's Girls' School, where her father worked as Director of Music. She made her first stage appearance at Dundee in 1939, in John Drinkwater's Bird in Hand, then moved to Oxford in 1942 and three years later made her London debut at the Embassy Theatre, Swiss Cottage. In 1947 she appeared in the comedy Jane at the Aldwych Theatre. After several years in the West End, and a brief stint on Broadway where she appeared in Springtime for Henry in 1951, she began to appear in films. After the death of her father in 1983, Ursula Howells instigated the "Herbert Howells Society" and became a standard bearer for the promotion of his work. She financially supported the recording of his compositions and did much to encourage the publishing and promotion of church music.
Filmography · 70
Midsomer Murders
1997 · Lady Isabel Aubrey
Play for Today
1970 · Sarah Chandler
Heartbeat
1992 · Miriam Wakefield
Bergerac
1981 · Elizabeth Fouchet
Thirty-Minute Theatre
1965 · Ellen
ITV Saturday Night Theatre
1969 · Mrs. Clissold
Playhouse
1974 · Mrs. Menant
The Forsyte Saga
1967 · Frances Forsyte
Upstairs, Downstairs
1971 · Duchess of Buckminster
No Hiding Place
1959
Sunday Night Theatre
1950 · Mary Winsloe
Lovejoy
1986 · Olive Nettleton
The Cazalets
2001
BBC2 Play of the Week
1977 · Barbara Karolina
Interpol Calling
1959 · Miki
Man in a Suitcase
1967
Miss Marple
1984 · Miss Blacklock
The Human Jungle
1963 · Julia Gray
Half Hour Story
1967 · Peggy
Fall of Eagles
1974 · Empress Maria Fyodorov...
Sherlock Holmes
1954
Father, Dear Father
1968 · Barbara
Ooh La La!
1968 · Mme Pontagnac
The Informer
1966 · Lady Tregunter
Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced
1985 · Miss Blacklock
All Gas and Gaiters
1967 · Mrs Buckley
Father, Dear Father
1978 · Barbara Mossman
The Barchester Chronicles
1982 · Miss Thorne
Cousin Bette
1971 · Adeline Hulot
Lilli Palmer Theatre
1955 · Mary
Jewels
1992 · The Duchess
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors
1965 · Mrs. Deirdre Biddulph...
Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly
1970 · Mumsy
Flesh and Blood
1951 · Harriet Marshall
She's Out
1995 · Mrs Lawson
A Choice of Coward
1964 · Liz Essendine
Torture Garden
1967 · Miss Maxine Chambers (...
Crossplot
1969 · Maggi Thwaites
Armchair Theatre
1956 · Margaret
The Long Arm
1956 · Mrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gil...
Number Three
1953 · Maureen Dartington
Hard Times
1977 · Mrs Gradgrind
The Constant Husband
1955 · Ann
Account Rendered
1957 · Lucille Ainsworth
A Rather English Marriage
1998 · Mary
Assignment K
1968 · Estelle
The Weak and the Wicked
1954 · Pam Vickers
The Tichborne Claimant
1999 · Lady Doughty
The Gilded Cage
1955 · Brenda Lucas
When the Actors Come
1978 · Barbara Karolina
A Pinch of Snuff
1994 · Alice Andover
Father Dear Father
1973 · Barbara
80,000 Suspects
1963 · Joanna Duten
Time After Time
1986 · May Swift
I Believe in You
1952 · Hon. Ursula
The Cold Room
1984 · Headmistress
The Oracle
1953 · Peggy
Track the Man Down
1955 · Mary Dennis
The Enigma
1980 · Mrs Fielding
Keep It Clean
1956 · Pat Anstey
They Can't Hang Me
1955 · Antonia Pitt
The Sicilians
1963 · Mme. Perrault
Two Letter Alibi
1962 · Louise
The Madhouse on Castle Street
1963 · Martha Tompkins
The Blakes Slept Here
1953 · Emily
A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter
1964 · Liz Essendine
Now Let Him Go
1957 · Nurse Judith
West of Suez
1957 · Eileen
Gentle Folk
1980 · Mrs Menant
The Cocktail Party
1952