Portrait of Ursula Howells

Ursula Howells

Acting

Biography

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.

Born: September 17, 1922

Place of Birth: Hammersmith, London, England, UK

Filmography

1999
The Tichborne Claimant

as Lady Doughty

1997
Midsomer Murders

as Lady Isabel Aubrey

1994
A Pinch of Snuff

as Alice Andover

1992
Jewels

as The Duchess

1992
Heartbeat

as Miriam Wakefield

1986
Time After Time

as May Swift

1986
Lovejoy

as Olive Nettleton

1985
1984
The Cold Room

as Headmistress

1981
Bergerac

as Elizabeth Fouchet

1981
Bergerac

as Laura Atherton

1980
The Enigma

as Mrs Fielding

1980
Gentle Folk

as Mrs Menant

1978
Father, Dear Father

as Barbara Mossman

1978
When the Actors Come

as Barbara Karolina

1977
Hard Times

as Mrs Gradgrind

1977
BBC2 Play of the Week

as Barbara Karolina

1974
Fall of Eagles

as Empress Maria Fyodorovna

1974
Playhouse

as Mrs. Menant

1974
Playhouse

as Mrs. Fielding

1973
1971
Upstairs, Downstairs

as Duchess of Buckminster

1971
Cousin Bette

as Adeline Hulot

1970
Play for Today

as Sarah Chandler

1969
Crossplot

as Maggi Thwaites

1968
1968
Assignment K

as Estelle

1967
Torture Garden

as Miss Maxine Chambers (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")

1967
All Gas and Gaiters

as Mrs Buckley

1966
The Informer

as Lady Tregunter

1965
Dr. Terror's House of Horrors

as Mrs. Deirdre Biddulph (segment 1 "Werewolf")

1964
A Choice of Coward

as Liz Essendine

1963
80,000 Suspects

as Joanna Duten

1963
The Human Jungle

as Julia Gray

1963
1963
The Sicilians

as Mme. Perrault

1962
1959
1957
Now Let Him Go

as Nurse Judith

1957
Account Rendered

as Lucille Ainsworth

1957
West of Suez

as Eileen

1956
Armchair Theatre

as Margaret

1956
The Long Arm

as Mrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gilson

1956
Keep It Clean

as Pat Anstey

1955
They Can't Hang Me

as Antonia Pitt

1955
Track the Man Down

as Mary Dennis

1955
The Gilded Cage

as Brenda Lucas

1954
1953
The Oracle

as Peggy

1952
I Believe in You

as Hon. Ursula

1951
Flesh and Blood

as Harriet Marshall

1950
Sunday Night Theatre

as Mary Winsloe