Jenny Howe (born 1950) is a British actress and theatre practitioner. Trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, she began her career in repertory theatre in the early 1970s before becoming a prolific character actress on British television. She is best known for her role as the headmistress Mrs Keele in Grange Hill, and later appeared in series including The Bill, Casualty, Holby City, EastEnders and Silent Witness, as well as in films including Truly Madly Deeply and The Heart of Me.“Entert,” Crewe Chronicle, 12 October 1972, p. 10.

Early life and training

Howe trained at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) from around 1969 to 1972. During her training she appeared in student productions including Alice (1970),“Style of ‘Alice’ is preserved,” The Stage, 17 December 1970, p. 31. Little Boxes and The Coffee Lace (1971),“John Bowen bill,” The Stage, 25 March 1971, p. 15. and The Importance of Being Earnest (1971).“Students in Wilde,” The Stage, 22 December 1971, p. 14. As well as theatre, she noted her interests in her early twenties were sailing and painting.

Career Howe's first professional appearance came in 1972, when she joined the Crewe Theatre Company and appeared in the production Sailor Beware. She subsequently appeared in productions including Arms and the Man and Macbeth, the latter in the role of one of the witches.“Drama Column Cockpit,” Crewe Chronicle, 24 May 1973, p. 8.“Macbeth well played at Crewe,” Staffordshire Sentinel, 7 December 1972, p. 24. She continued to work steadily in repertory and regional theatre during the 1970s, appearing at the Gateway Theatre in Chester in productions including Wanted, One Body and Dry Rot, both of which drew favourable local notice.“Actors make the most of play’s humour,” Chester Chronicle, 25 May 1973, p. 10.“Dry Rot: It’s laurels for the ladies,” Chester Chronicle, 15 June 1973, p. 10. She also worked with the Wearabout Theatre Company in Sunderland in Theatre in Education and touring productions,“Roundabout,” The Stage, 7 November 1974, p. 14. and later appeared with the Phoenix Theatre Company in Leicester.“Happy to get into the act,” Leicester Daily Mercury, 30 May 1978, p. 7.

In the 1980s she continued to develop her stage career, appearing at venues including the Contact Theatre in Manchester, where she was nominated for Best Supporting Performance at the Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards in 1987.“The Stage: Manchester Evening News Theatre Awards,” Manchester Evening News, 12 November 1987. In 1989 she won the Morrison Cup for her production of Hell and High Water, reflecting a parallel move into directing.“Juniors praised,” Hoylake & West Kirby News, 17 May 1989, p. 5. Howe also performed at the National Theatre.“Playwright Zoe Cooper: ‘My plays are full of endings, but they’re hopeful too’,” The Guardian, 7 October 2016.

Alongside her theatre work, Howe developed a substantial television career. Her best-known role was as Mrs Keele, the headmistress in the BBC school drama Grange Hill, in which she appeared from 1992 to 1994. She was also a regular presence in British television drama, with appearances in series such as The Bill, Casualty, Holby City, EastEnders and Silent Witness, typically playing professional or authority figures.

Her film work included a role in Truly Madly Deeply (1990), produced by her then husband Robert Cooper, as well as later appearances in films including The Heart of Me and Puckoon.

Later in her career Howe returned to theatre, appearing at the Orange Tree Theatre in Richmond in productions including The Scapegoat and The Stingless Marionette.“Jenny’s looking at life beyond the schoolyard,” Richmond and Twickenham Times, date unknown. She also founded the production company Choiceworks.

Personal life

Howe married theatre director and producer Robert Cooper in 1983; the couple later divorced.“Aiming for the drama heights,” Manchester Evening News, 12 November 1987, p. 6. They had two daughters, Zoe Cooper, who became a playwright, and Emily Cooper.

In 1987 the family were living in Glossop while Cooper was working in Belfast, and a later profile noted that Howe's acting career influenced family decisions about relocation.Martina Purdy, “Profile: Robert Cooper,” Business Telegraph, 4 April 1995, p. 9.

Filmography

Television Year(s) Title Role Notes 2024 KAOS Laundry Mistress 1 episode 2021 Dalgliesh Grace 2 episodes 2021 Silent Witness Coroner 1 episode 2019 A Throne of Shadows Maud 2 episodes 2017 Cold Feet Ruby Savage 1 episode 2004–2016 Doctors Elizabeth Gunn / Dr Louise Forrester 2 episodes 2000–2016 EastEnders Tina / Judge Harriet Steele / Magistrate 3 episodes 2014 Lewis Moira 1 episode 2013 The Guilty Child Psychologist 1 episode 2011 Psychoville Sister Abigail 1 episode 2010 Law & Order: UK Iris Robinson 1 episode 2009 Margaret Cynthia Crawford Television film 2008 The Wrong Door Various 2 episodes 2008 My Family Sister Ann 1 episode 2007 The Whistleblowers Opposition MP 1 episode 2006 Suburban Shootout Felicity the Librarian 1 episode 2006 Rosemary & Thyme Manageress 1 episode 2006 Time Trumpet Various 1 episode 2005 Love Soup Mrs Blunt 1 episode 2001–2005 Where the Heart Is Social Worker / Solicitor 2 episodes 2004 Marple Maid 1 episode 2004 Peep Show Registrar 1 episode 2004 Spooks Mrs Sayle 1 episode (uncredited) 2004 Noah & Saskia Mrs Privett 1 episode 2004 Life Begins Female Customer 1 episode 2003 Fortysomething Maureen Cowley 1 episode 2003 Strange Librarian 1 episode 1990–2003 The Bill Betty Fraser / Eileen / Margaret Trent 4 episodes 2002 Rose and Maloney Wendy 1 episode 2002 Wire in the Blood Dr Sandra Bass 1 episode 2001 Shades Judy Jacobs 1 episode 1999 Hope and Glory Chrissie Hill 1 episode 1999 A Touch of Frost Anne Waldren 1 episode 1996 Dangerfield Inspector Caines 1 episode 1992–1994 Grange Hill Mrs Keele 36 episodes 1992 Anglo Saxon Attitudes Party Guest 1 episode 1990 Inspector Morse Angry Neighbour 1 episode 1989 Dramarama Amber 1 episode 1989 Coronation Street Mrs Lambert 1 episode 1986 Emmerdale Sally James 4 episodes 1980 Lady Killers Miss Thomas 1 episode

Film Year Title Role Notes 2009 Hell's Pavement Magistrate 2007 Daphne Tod Television film 2005 The Year London Blew Up: 1974 Mrs Matthews Television film 2004 Passer By Magistrate Television film 2003 Too Good to Be True Registrar Television film 2002 Good Thing Irene 2002 The Heart of Me Nurse 2002 Puckoon Mrs Croucher 2000 Madame Bovary Sister Evangeline Television film 1999 The Turn of the Screw Cook Television film 1990 Truly Madly Deeply Burge

References

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