
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.

The Cazalets

The Human Jungle

The Tichborne Claimant

Upstairs, Downstairs

バーナビー警部

ミス・マープル 予告殺人

Lovejoy

Heartbeat

Sherlock Holmes

Man in a Suitcase

A Choice of Coward

Playhouse

BBC2 Play of the Week

The Barchester Chronicles

The Long Arm

80,000 Suspects

The Constant Husband

Fall of Eagles

They Can't Hang Me

Bergerac

Interpol Calling

Dr Terror's House of Horrors

I Believe in You

The Weak and the Wicked

Play for Today

Torture Garden

Mumsy, Nanny, Sonny & Girly

Jewels

Assignment K

Account Rendered

Track the Man Down

Armchair Theatre

All Gas and Gaiters

Father, Dear Father

Crossplot

The Sicilians

A Rather English Marriage

The Gilded Cage

Two Letter Alibi

The Oracle

Father, Dear Father

Hard Times

Father Dear Father

Keep It Clean

The Cold Room

No Hiding Place

Sunday Night Theatre

Cousin Bette

Time After Time

Now Let Him Go

The Cocktail Party

West of Suez

Gentle Folk

Flesh and Blood

A Pinch of Snuff

The Madhouse on Castle Street

The Enigma

When the Actors Come

The Blakes Slept Here

A Choice of Coward: Present Laughter

Number Three

Lilli Palmer Theatre

Ooh La La!

The Informer