Ursula Howells

• Name — Ursula Howells • Born — 17 September 1922 • Birthplace — London, England • Died — 16 October 2005 • Place of death — London, England • Occupation — Actress • Years Active — 1939–2005

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 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.

• Madhouse on Castle Street (1963) - Martha Tompkins • Dixon of Dock Green (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) (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 (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- The Electric Vendetta (2001) - Lady Isabel Aubrey (final appearance)