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Ursula Howells

Ursula Howells

Actor · Died October 16, 2005, aged 83 · Hammersmith, London, England, UK

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.

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Biography from TMDB.

Born
September 17, 1922
Died
October 16, 2005 (aged 83)
From
Hammersmith, London, England, UK
Works as
Actor
Titles
16 on MovieCove · 86 credits in all
Links
IMDb (opens in a new tab)TMDB (opens in a new tab)Wikidata (opens in a new tab)

Known for

TMDB popularity, last 63 days to Oct 26Down 19% in 30 days

What are Ursula Howells' films like?

Across their 8 MovieCove titles with a thematic analysis, their films lean Morality and Survival.

Themes

share of theme weight
Morality
31%
Survival
30%
Bonds
22%
Self
7%
Power
5%
Society
3%
Ideas
3%
Family bonds3 titles, browse their movies with this themeJustice3 titles, browse their movies with this themeSurvival3 titles, browse their movies with this themeDeception2 titles, browse their movies with this theme

What they feel like to watch

their average across 6 films
ToneFeelDemandtheir average · filled zone: the category
Stylized: How far its world departs from everyday reality. Browse their stylized movies.
Tone · Style
naturalisticheightened

A split, not a type: Grounded 3 · Stylized 1 · Heightened 2

Charged: How hard the emotional peaks hit while you watch. Browse their charged movies.
Feel · Intensity
gentleintense

Gentle 0 · Charged 6 · Intense 0

Steady: How much it swings between very different feelings. Browse their steady movies.
Feel · Swings
steadyswings

Steady 3 · Shifting 3 · Whiplash 0

Some laughs: How much of the runtime is played for laughs. Browse their some laughs movies.
Feel · Humor
noneconstant

Straight-faced 2 · Some laughs 3 · Funny 1

Even-paced: How fast it moves from scene to scene. Browse their even-paced movies.
Demand · Pace
slowrelentless

Slow burn 2 · Even-paced 3 · Relentless 1

Engaged: How much focus it asks of you — look away and lose the thread? Browse their engaged movies.
Demand · Attention
casualfull focus

Casual 2 · Engaged 4 · Full focus 0

Resolved: How much is left for you to interpret. Browse their resolved movies.
Demand · Resolution
resolvedambiguous

Resolved 5 · Open-ended 1 · Ambiguous 0

Roles they play

1 analyzed role
  • Shadowas Mumsy in Girly (1970)

Moods and endings

endings are an aggregate; no title is named

Dominant moods · mentions across their titles

Tense
4
Melancholic
3
Dread
2
Thrilling
2
Absurd
2
Other
6

How their films linger

Unsettling3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteThought-provoking3 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteFun2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteBittersweet2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertasteWistful2 titles, browse their movies with this aftertaste

How their films end · 3 with a twist

  • Happy1
  • Bittersweet5
  • Tragic1
  • Ambiguous1

AI-generated from each title's plot synopsis and cast list, with extra plot summaries, reviews and Parents Guide notes for titles the model may not know, and the model's own knowledge of the ones it recognizes. Only analyzed titles count, so this covers part of the filmography; the feel axes count films only for now.

Where can I watch Ursula Howells' films?

As of October 24, 2026, 9 of their 16 MovieCove titles stream on a subscription or free service, most on Tubi (7).

Also on these channels

Subscription and free streaming for Ursula Howells' titles on MovieCove; rent and buy are not counted. Titles are listed by Midcredits score, highest first, at most 12 per service; a dashed chip is a producer credit or a minor one, such as a thanks. A service opens the browse page, which counts movies only, so its number can differ.

Filmography

86 credits, 16 with a MovieCove page.

  • The Cazalets(2001)

    Show 6 episodes · Actor

    Midcredits score: 68th percentile of all shows

  • The Tichborne Claimant(1998)

    as Lady Doughty

    Midcredits score: 56th percentile of all films

  • A Rather English Marriage(1998)

    as Mary

    Midcredits score: 83rd percentile of all films

  • Midsomer Murders(1997)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Isabel Aubrey

    Midcredits score: 88th percentile of all shows

  • She's Out (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1995)

    Show 2 episodes · as Mrs Lawson

  • A Pinch of Snuff (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1994)

    as Alice Andover

  • Jewels (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1992)

    Show 2 episodes · as The Duchess

  • Heartbeat(1992)

    Show 1 episode · as Miriam Wakefield

    Midcredits score: 51st percentile of all shows

  • Time After Time (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    as May Swift

  • Lovejoy (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1986)

    Show 1 episode · as Olive Nettleton

  • Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1985)

    Show 3 episodes · as Miss Blacklock

  • Miss Marple (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    Show 1 episode · as Miss Blacklock

  • The Cold Room (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1984)

    as Headmistress

  • The Barchester Chronicles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 2 episodes · as Miss Thorne

  • Something in Disguise (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1982)

    Show 6 episodes · as May Browne-Lacey

  • Bergerac(1981)

    Show 1 episode · as Elizabeth Fouchet · as Laura Atherton

    Midcredits score: 49th percentile of all shows

  • A Question of Guilt (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    Show 2 episodes · as Lady Uredale (voice)

  • The Enigma (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mrs Fielding

  • Gentle Folk (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1980)

    as Mrs Menant

  • Father, Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Mossman

  • When the Actors Come (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1978)

    as Barbara Karolina

  • Hard Times(1977)

    Show 3 episodes · as Mrs Gradgrind

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all shows

  • BBC2 Play of the Week (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1977)

    Show 1 episode · as Barbara Karolina

  • The Many Wives Of Patrick (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1976)

    Show 20 episodes · Actor

  • Ten from the Twenties (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1975)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Isobel Asterley

  • Little Fears (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as The Older Woman

  • Fall of Eagles (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Empress Maria Fyodorovna

  • Playhouse (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Fielding · as Mrs. Menant

  • Miss Nightingale (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1974)

    as Aunt May

  • Father Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1973)

    as Barbara

  • Franklin's Farm (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    as Prue

  • Late Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1972)

    Show 1 episode · as The Older Woman

  • Upstairs, Downstairs(1971)

    Show 2 episodes · as Duchess of Buckminster

    Midcredits score: 94th percentile of all shows

  • Cousin Bette (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1971)

    Show 5 episodes · as Adeline Hulot

  • Play for Today (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 1 episode · as Sarah Chandler

  • Ryan International (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1970)

    Show 10 episodes · Actor

  • Girly(1970)

    as Mumsy

    Midcredits score: 59th percentile of all films

  • Crossplot(1969)

    as Maggi Thwaites

    Midcredits score: 26th percentile of all films

  • ITV Saturday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1969)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs. Clissold

  • The Root of All Evil? (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Angela

  • Father, Dear Father (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 45 episodes · as Barbara

  • Ooh La La! (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    Show 1 episode · as Mme Pontagnac

  • Assignment K (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1968)

    as Estelle

  • Torture Garden(1967)

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

    Midcredits score: 46th percentile of all films

  • Man in a Suitcase (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Half Hour Story (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Peggy

  • All Gas and Gaiters (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 1 episode · as Mrs Buckley

  • The Forsyte Saga (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1967)

    Show 3 episodes · as Frances Forsyte

  • The Informer (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1966)

    Show 1 episode · as Lady Tregunter

  • Thirty-Minute Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Ellen

  • Knock on Any Door (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Ann Gibbs

  • The Wednesday Thriller (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 1 episode · as Hilda

  • Six Shades of Black (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1965)

    Show 2 episodes · as Netta Bartholomew

  • Dr. Terror's House of Horrors(1965)

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

    Midcredits score: 67th percentile of all films

  • A Choice of Coward (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    Show 1 episode · as Liz Essendine

  • A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1964)

    as Liz Essendine

  • 80,000 Suspects (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Joanna Duten

  • The Human Jungle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    Show 1 episode · as Julia Gray

  • The Madhouse on Castle Street (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Martha Tompkins

  • The Sicilians (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1963)

    as Mme. Perrault

  • Two Letter Alibi (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1962)

    as Louise

  • Drama 61-67 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1961)

    Show 1 episode · as Claire

  • Sunday-Night Play (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Janet Ormund

  • Theatre '70 (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1960)

    Show 1 episode · as Jessy Tomson

  • No Hiding Place (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 2 episodes · Actor

  • Interpol Calling (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1959)

    Show 1 episode · as Miki

  • Now Let Him Go (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Nurse Judith

  • Account Rendered(1957)

    as Lucille Ainsworth

    Midcredits score: 38th percentile of all films

  • West of Suez (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1957)

    as Eileen

  • Armchair Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    Show 1 episode · as Margaret · as Nurse Judith · as Prue · as Violet Green

  • The Third Key(1956)

    as Mrs. Elliot / Mrs. Gilson

    Midcredits score: 81st percentile of all films

  • Keep It Clean (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1956)

    as Pat Anstey

  • They Can't Hang Me(1955)

    as Antonia Pitt

    Midcredits score: 23rd percentile of all films

  • Lilli Palmer Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary

  • Track the Man Down (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Mary Dennis

  • The Constant Husband (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Ann

  • The Gilded Cage (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1955)

    as Brenda Lucas

  • Sherlock Holmes (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1954)

    Show 1 episode · Actor

  • Young and Willing(1954)

    as Pam Vickers

    Midcredits score: 55th percentile of all films

  • The Blakes Slept Here (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Emily

  • The Oracle (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Peggy

  • Number Three (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1953)

    as Maureen Dartington

  • I Believe in You (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    as Hon. Ursula

  • The Cocktail Party (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1952)

    Actor

  • Flesh and Blood (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1951)

    as Harriet Marshall

  • Sunday Night Theatre (not in the MovieCove catalog yet)(1950)

    Show 1 episode · as Mary Winsloe · as Maureen Dartington

Career shape

Star power in the 75th percentile of 239,109 people with a billed film role, over a full career of 86 titles from 1950 to 2001; peak year 1970.

Highest rated

Dr. Terror's House of Horrors (1965)

Midcredits 67th

Most popular right now

The Cazalets (2001)

Film career

19502001

Peak 1970 · steadily prominent in film for years. Film roles by billing, audience size and rating; 25+ votes. A show carries a single first-air date, so shows are not on the curve.

By role

only this rolewith another role
Acting86 of 86: 86 only acting, 0 with another role · typical Midcredits score58th

By decade

1950s22 · acting1960s27 · acting1970s18 · acting1980s11 · acting1990s7 · acting2000s1 · acting

Counts from TMDB across their full career, self appearances out; a title counts in every role they held on it. The ring is the typical Midcredits score (the median percentile) of the role's titles that are on MovieCove, shown from 5 scored.

How do Ursula Howells' films land?

Their typical MovieCove film has a Midcredits score in the 56th percentile, the median of all 10; across their 6 films with reception data, the typical film sits in the 50th percentile for acclaim.

Acclaim · how much people like their films

50thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Approval · how many liked their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Reach · how many have seen their films

47thpercentile
Typical film, the median of 6

Midcredits score across 16 titles, by percentile

  • 75th and up4
  • 50th to 74th7
  • 25th to 49th4
  • Below 25th1

Shape of the crowd

9 of their 16 titles are Crowd Pleasers.

  • Universally Loved2
  • Crowd Pleaser9
  • Broadly Agreed3
  • Mixed2

Most divisive · actor

The Tichborne Claimant (1998)

64th percentile spread · 24% rated it 4 or lower

Most loved · actor

A Rather English Marriage (1998)

Midcredits 83rd · 80% liked

Reviewers score the acting 71/100 in their films, across 6 reviewed titles; fans 79, detractors 57. The element that speaks to their work as an actor.

Percentiles are each film's standing among all films on MovieCove; the typical film is the median, so one outlier cannot drag it. Percentiles and reviewer scores count the films IMDb credits them on, for now; the Midcredits score bands, the shape of the crowd and the two cards count their MovieCove titles, shows included (a show ranked among shows), appearances as themselves left out. A descriptor is the shape of a title's IMDb rating distribution against the catalog; "most divisive" needs a spread wider than half of all titles, and a card names only a principal credit: a craft role, and on a show a crew role or a run of episodes, never a courtesy credit or a one-off guest spot.

Who does Ursula Howells work with?

People who share at least 2 of Ursula Howells' MovieCove titles, grouped by what they did on them; Freddie Francis shares the most, 2.

Directors

Actors

Mixed roles