Person
Ursula Howells
Acting · 1922–2005 · Hammersmith, London, England, UK
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.
Known for

Midsomer Murders
Lady Isabel Aubrey

Play for Today
Sarah Chandler

Heartbeat
Miriam Wakefield

Bergerac
Elizabeth Fouchet

Playhouse
Mrs. Menant

ITV Saturday Night Theatre
Mrs. Clissold

No Hiding Place
1959

Upstairs, Downstairs
Duchess of Buckminster

Thirty-Minute Theatre
Ellen
Sunday-Night Play
1960
Filmography
- 2001The Cazalets
- 1999The Tichborne ClaimantLady Doughty
- 1998A Rather English MarriageMary
- 1997Midsomer MurdersLady Isabel Aubrey
- 1994A Pinch of SnuffAlice Andover
- 1992JewelsThe Duchess
- 1992HeartbeatMiriam Wakefield
- 1986Time After TimeMay Swift
- 1986LovejoyOlive Nettleton
- 1985Miss Marple: A Murder Is AnnouncedMiss Blacklock
- 1984The Cold RoomHeadmistress
- 1982The Barchester ChroniclesMiss Thorne
- 1982Something in DisguiseMay Browne-Lacey
- 1981BergeracElizabeth Fouchet
- 1980A Question of GuiltLady Uredale (voice)
- 1980The EnigmaMrs Fielding
- 1980Gentle FolkMrs Menant
- 1978Father, Dear FatherBarbara Mossman
- 1978When the Actors ComeBarbara Karolina
- 1977Hard TimesMrs Gradgrind
- 1977BBC2 Play of the WeekBarbara Karolina
- 1976The Many Wives Of Patrick
- 1974Little FearsThe Older Woman
- 1974Fall of EaglesEmpress Maria Fyodorovna
- 1974PlayhouseMrs. Menant
- 1974Miss NightingaleAunt May
- 1973Father Dear FatherBarbara
- 1972Franklin's FarmPrue
- 1972Late Night TheatreThe Older Woman
- 1971Upstairs, DownstairsDuchess of Buckminster
- 1971Cousin BetteAdeline Hulot
- 1970Play for TodaySarah Chandler
- 1970Ryan International
- 1970Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & GirlyMumsy
- 1969CrossplotMaggi Thwaites
- 1969ITV Saturday Night TheatreMrs. Clissold
- 1968Father, Dear FatherBarbara
- 1968Ooh La La!Mme Pontagnac
- 1968Assignment KEstelle
- 1967Torture GardenMiss Maxine Chambers (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway")
- 1967Man in a Suitcase
- 1967Half Hour StoryPeggy
- 1967All Gas and GaitersMrs Buckley
- 1966The InformerLady Tregunter
- 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreEllen
- 1965The Wednesday ThrillerHilda
- 1965Six Shades of BlackNetta Bartholomew
- 1965Dr. Terror's House of HorrorsMrs. Deirdre Biddulph (segment 1 "Werewolf")
- 1964A Choice of Coward: Present LaughterLiz Essendine
- 1964A Choice of CowardLiz Essendine
- 196380,000 SuspectsJoanna Duten
- 1963The Human JungleJulia Gray
- 1963The Madhouse on Castle StreetMartha Tompkins
- 1963The SiciliansMme. Perrault
- 1962Two Letter AlibiLouise
- 1961Drama 61-67Claire
- 1960Sunday-Night Play
- 1960Theatre '70Jessy Tomson
- 1959No Hiding Place
- 1959Interpol CallingMiki
- 1957Now Let Him GoNurse Judith
- 1957Account RenderedLucille Ainsworth
- 1957West of SuezEileen
- 1956Armchair TheatreMargaret
- 1956The Long ArmMrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gilson
- 1956Keep It CleanPat Anstey
- 1955They Can't Hang MeAntonia Pitt
- 1955Lilli Palmer TheatreMary
- 1955Track the Man DownMary Dennis
- 1955The Constant HusbandAnn
- 1955The Gilded CageBrenda Lucas
- 1954Sherlock Holmes
- 1954The Weak and the WickedPam Vickers
- 1953The Blakes Slept HereEmily
- 1953The OraclePeggy
- 1953Number ThreeMaureen Dartington
- 1952I Believe in YouHon. Ursula
- 1952The Cocktail Party
- 1951Flesh and BloodHarriet Marshall
- 1950Sunday Night TheatreMary Winsloe
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