Ursula Howells' educational background began at St Paul's Girls' School in London, where her father, Herbert Howells, a renowned English church music composer, taught for 26 years. Following the tragic loss of her brother Michael to polio in 1935, her father composed his iconic choral masterpiece "Hymnus Paradisi" as a tribute.
Her journey in the entertainment industry started when she was evacuated to Scotland during World War II, making her stage debut with Dundee rep in 1940. She later made her London debut at the Embassy Theatre in Swiss Cottage in 1945 and her broadcasting debut in 1946 with Sweet Lavender. Ursula's screen debut followed in 1950 with Flesh and Blood, which was released in 1951.
Throughout her career, she continued to appear in West End productions, while also maintaining a strong presence in television and film. Her notable roles included Marriage a la Mode in 1955, The Third Key in 1956, Dr. Terror's House of Horrors in 1965, and Girly in 1970.
Ursula made a lasting impression as Frances Forsyte, the first wife of Young Jo, in the BBC's 1967 television adaptation of John Galsworthy's The Forsyte Saga. She went on to become a regular fixture in television comedy and drama, appearing in a wide range of shows, such as Father, Dear Father in 1968, A Rather English Marriage in 1998, and The Cazalets in 2001.
Her television credits also included the role of psychopath Lettie Blacklock in Miss Marple: A Murder Is Announced in 1985. She appeared in several other notable productions, including Sins of the Fathers in 1985, Warriors in 1991, Somewhere - Over the Rainbow? in 1994, Vigilante in 1995, and The Electric Vendetta in 2001.
Ursula was deeply passionate about promoting her father's work and was instrumental in establishing the "Herbert Howells Society" following his death in 1983. She financially supported the recording of his compositions and worked tirelessly to encourage the publishing and promotion of church music.
In her personal life, Ursula was married twice. Her first marriage to Davy Dodd in 1949 was brief, and she later remarried in 1968 to theatre director Anthony Pelissier. She was widowed in 1988 and moved to Petworth in Sussex. Although she did not have any children of her own, she was a loving stepmother to her husband's three daughters and son, who survived her.
