Ursula Howells (17 September 1922 – 16 October 2005) was an English actress whose elegant presence kept her much in demand for roles in

film A film, also known as a movie or motion picture, is a work of visual art that simulates experiences and otherwise communicates ideas, stories, perceptions, emotions, or atmosphere through the use of moving images that are generally, sinc ...

and television.

Life and career

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 Dundee (; ; or , ) is the List of towns and cities in Scotland by population, fourth-largest city in Scotland. The mid-year population estimate for the locality was . It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firt ...

in 1939, in John Drinkwater's ''Bird in Hand'', then moved to

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

in 1942 and three years later made her London debut at the Embassy Theatre,

Swiss Cottage Swiss Cottage is an area in the London Borough of Camden, England. It is centred on the junction of Avenue Road and Finchley Road and includes Swiss Cottage tube station. Swiss Cottage lies north-northwest of Charing Cross. The area was ...

. 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 in 1987, 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. Howells died on 16 October 2005, aged 83.

Filmography

Film

* '' Flesh and Blood'' (1951) - Harriet Marshall * '' I Believe in You'' (1952) - Hon. Ursula * '' The Oracle'' (1953) - Peggy * '' The Weak and the Wicked'' (1954) - Pam Vickers * '' The Gilded Cage'' (1955) - Brenda Lucas * '' The Constant Husband'' (1955) - 'The Wives' - Ann * '' Track the Man Down'' (1955) - Mary Dennis * '' They Can't Hang Me'' (1955) - Antonia Pitt * ''Handcuffs, London'' (1955) - Madelaine Perry * '' Keep It Clean'' (1956) - Pat Anstey * '' The Long Arm'' (1956) - Mrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gilson * '' West of Suez'' (1957) - Eileen * '' Account Rendered'' (1957) - Lucille Ainsworth * '' Two Letter Alibi'' (1962) - Louise Hilary * '' 80,000 Suspects'' (1963) - Joanna Duten * '' The Sicilians'' (1964) - Mme. Perrault * '' Dr Terror's House of Horrors'' (1965) - Mrs. Deirdre Biddulph (segment "Werewolf") * '' Torture Garden'' (1967) - Miss Maxine Chambers (segment 3 "Mr. Steinway") * '' Assignment K'' (1968) - Estelle * '' Crossplot'' (1969) - Maggi Thwaites * '' Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny and Girly'' (1970) - Mumsy * '' Father, Dear Father'' (1973) - Barbara * '' The Tichborne Claimant'' (1998) - Lady Doughty

Television

* '' Madhouse on Castle Street'' (1963) - Martha Tompkins * ''

Dixon of Dock Green ''Dixon of Dock Green'' is a BBC police procedural television series about daily life at a fictional London police station, with the emphasis on petty crime, successfully controlled through common sense and human understanding. It ran from 1955 ...

'' (1963) - Jean Baker Ellis * '' The Forsyte Saga'' (1967) - Frances * '' Man in a Suitcase'' (1968) - Clara Arnoldson * '' Father, Dear Father'' (1968-1973) - Barbara Mossman * '' Upstairs, Downstairs'' (1975) - Duchess of Buckminster * ''

Crown Court (TV series) ''Crown Court'' is a British television courtroom drama series produced by Granada Television for the ITV network. It ran from 1972, when the Crown Court system replaced Assize courts and Quarter sessions in the legal system of England and Wal ...

'' (1977) - Audrey Taylor ('Safe as Houses' episode) * '' The Barchester Chronicles'' (1982) - Miss Thorne * '' Miss Marple - A Murder is Announced'' (1985) - Miss Blacklock * '' Bergerac'' (1985-1991) - Laura Atherton / Elizabeth Fouchet * '' Casualty'' (1993-1997) - Erica Chisnall / Hilda * ''

Lovejoy ''Lovejoy'' is a British television comedy-drama mystery fiction, mystery series, based on the Lovejoy (novel series), novels by John Grant (Lovejoy), John Grant under the pen name Jonathan Gash. The show, which ran to 71 episodes over six ser ...

'' (1994) - Olive Nettleton * '' Under the Hammer'' (1994) - Mrs. Roper * '' Heartbeat'' (1995) - Miriam Wakefield * '' Dangerfield'' (1995) - Violet Trevelyn * '' A Rather English Marriage'' (1998, TV Movie) - Mary * '' The Cazalets'' (2001) - Kitty Cazalet * ''

Midsomer Murders ''Midsomer Murders'' is a British Mystery fiction, mystery television series, adapted by Anthony Horowitz and Douglas Watkinson from the novels in the ''Chief Inspector Barnaby'' book series created by Caroline Graham (writer), Caroline Graham. ...

- The Electric Vendetta'' (2001) - Lady Isabel Aubrey (final appearance)

References

External links

*
The Herbert Howells Trust
{{DEFAULTSORT:Howells, Ursula 1922 births 2005 deaths English film actresses English television actresses People educated at St Paul's Girls' School Actresses from London 20th-century English actresses 21st-century English actresses Ursula