Howe's first professional appearance came in 1972, when she joined the Crewe Theatre Company and appeared in the production
Sailor Beware. 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. She also worked with the Wearabout Theatre Company in Sunderland in Theatre in Education and touring productions, and later appeared with the Phoenix Theatre Company in Leicester. 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. In 1989 she won the Morrison Cup for her production of
Hell and High Water, reflecting a parallel move into directing. Howe also performed at the
National Theatre. 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. She also founded the production company
Choiceworks. == Personal life ==