Ursula Howells

English actress (1922–2005)
Anthony Pelissier
(m. 1968; died 1988)

Ursula Howells (17 September 1922 – 16 October 2005) was an English actress whose elegant presence kept her much in demand for roles in film and television.[1]

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 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.[2] 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.[3]

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

References

  1. ^ "Ursula Howells". explore.bfi.org.uk. Archived from the original on 21 July 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2016.
  2. ^ Shorter, Eric (3 November 2005). "Ursula Howells". The Guardian. Retrieved 4 March 2015.
  3. ^ "Obituary: Ursula Howells". the Guardian. 3 November 2005. Retrieved 23 August 2022.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Ursula Howells.
  • Ursula Howells at IMDb
  • The Herbert Howells Trust
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  • VIAF
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