Irene Handl
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Irene Handl (27 December 1901 – 29 November 1987) was a British character actress who appeared in more than 100 British films; she also wrote novels. Irene Handl was born in Maida Vale, London, the younger of two daughters of an Austrian-born father—Friedrich (later Frederick) Handl (1874–1961) and German mother, Marie (née Schiepp or Schuepp; 1875 – before 1924). Both of Handl's parents became naturalised British citizens. Her father came to England via Switzerland and started as a bank clerk, before becoming a stockbroker, then became a private banker. The Handls lived a comfortable middle-class life, with a German cook and housekeeper living in the family home. From 1907 to 1915, Handl attended the Paddington and Maida Vale High School. In the 1920s Handl travelled several times to New York with her father, with the ship's log listing her on each occasion as having no occupation and residing in the family home. Handl studied at an acting school run by a sister of Dame Sybil Thorndike, and then made her stage debut in London in February 1937, at the relatively advanced age of 36. In 1939, and by now an actress, she was living with her widower father in London. She continued to live with her father until his death in 1961. Her elder sister Liane (1898–1977) had married Russian electrical engineer and photographer Victor Kraminsky (born Viktor Azar'evich Kraminskii; later known as Victor Kennett; 1894–1980) in 1920 in Marylebone, Middlesex (now London). They had at least one child, a son, Charles Kennett. Handl appeared in supporting roles in more than 100 British films, mostly comedy character parts such as slightly eccentric mothers, grannies, landladies and servants. She was a passionate lover of rock and roll, especially the work of Elvis Presley, and was president of the Lewisham branch of the Elvis Presley fan club. She was also a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and one of Britain's most avid champions of Chihuahuas, being inseparable from the pair that she owned. Handl had minor roles in such landmark films as Night Train to Munich and Brief Encounter. Her other notable roles included the wife of the union activist Fred Kite (played by Peter Sellers) in I'm All Right Jack (1959); Mrs Gammon, the formidable cook, opposite Gordon Harker in Small Hotel (1957); Tony Hancock's landlady in The Rebel (1961); Sherlock Holmes's housekeeper, Mrs Hudson, in The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970); and Morgan's Communist mother, Mrs Delt, in Morgan – A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966). She also had small roles in two of the Carry On films, Carry On Nurse and Carry On Constable), and played Miss Peach in the original version of The Italian Job. She worked until 1987, the year of her death. Her last role was released posthumously the following year. Handl died in her flat in Kensington, West London, on 29 November 1987, aged 85, reportedly from cancer. She never married. She was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium, North London.
Known for
Credits
Brief Encounter (1945)
as The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
The Italian Job (1969)
as Miss Peach
Stage Fright (1950)
as Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever (1970)
as Winnie Wainwhisle
Carry On Nurse (1959)
as Marge Hickson
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970)
as Mrs. Hudson
Night Train to Munich (1940)
as Stationmaster (uncredited)
Come Play with Me (1977)
as Lady Bovington
Adventures of a Private Eye (1977)
as Miss Friggin
The Last Remake of Beau Geste (1977)
as Miss Wormwood
A Kid for Two Farthings (1955)
as Mrs. Abramowitz
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's (1960)
as Miss Harker-Parker
The Wrong Box (1966)
as Mrs. Hackett
Absolute Beginners (1986)
as Mrs Larkin
Confessions of a Driving Instructor (1976)
as Miss Slenderparts
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment (1966)
as Mrs. Delt
I'm All Right Jack (1959)
as Mrs. Kite
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)
as Mrs. Barrymore
The Belles of St Trinian's (1954)
as Miss Gale
The Best of the Adventures (1981)
as Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
Girl in the News (1940)
as Gertrude Mary Blaker
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle (1980)
as Cinema Usherette
Woman Hater (1948)
as Mrs. Fletcher
Carlton-Browne of the F.O. (1959)
as Mrs. Carter
Happy Is the Bride (1958)
as Madame Edna
You Must Be Joking (1965)
as Elderly Woman
The Weak and the Wicked (1954)
as Waitress
No Kidding (1960)
as Mrs. Spicer
The Key (1958)
as Clerk
Young Wives' Tale (1951)
as Nanny (uncredited)
On the Night of the Fire (1939)
as Neighbour
For Them That Trespass (1949)
as Inn Proprietress
Make Mine Mink (1960)
as Madame Spolinski
The Night We Got the Bird (1960)
as Ma
Medal for the General (1944)
as Mrs. Farnsworth
The Night We Dropped a Clanger (1959)
as Mrs Billingsgate
Kiss the Bride Goodbye (1945)
as Mrs. Victory
School for Scoundrels (1960)
as Mrs Stringer
Next to No Time (1958)
as Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
Two-Way Stretch (1960)
as Mrs. Price
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers (1977)
as Mrs. Phillimore
It's Your Move (1982)
as Grand Old Lady
The Shop at Sly Corner (1947)
as Ruby Towser
Heavens Above! (1963)
as Rene Smith
Give Us the Moon (1944)
as Miss Haddock
Law and Disorder (1958)
as Woman in Train
Doctor in Trouble (1970)
as Mrs. Dailey
Carry On Constable (1960)
as Willie's Mother
A Weekend with Lulu (1961)
as Florence Bell
"Pimpernel" Smith (1941)
as Bit Part
Mad About Men (1954)
as Mme. Blanche
Doctor in Love (1960)
as Professor MacRitchie
Adam and Evelyne (1949)
as Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
Left Right and Centre (1959)
as Mrs. Maggs
A French Mistress (1960)
as Staff Sergeant Hodges
Wonderwall (1969)
as Mrs. Peurofoy
The Light Princess (1978)
as Nanny
The Importance of Being Earnest (1964)
Actor
The Rebel (1961)
as Mrs. Crevatte
It's in the Bag (1944)
as Mrs. Beam
I'll Walk Beside You (1943)
as Ma Perkins
Upstairs and Downstairs (1959)
as Large Woman
Meet Mr. Lucifer (1953)
as Lady with the Dog
Who Done It? (1956)
as Customer (uncredited)
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light (1941)
as Councillor
Smashing Time (1967)
as Mrs Gimble
I'll Turn to You (1946)
as Mrs. Gammon
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene (1953)
as Rosie
For the Love of Ada (1972)
as Ada Bingley
Just for Fun (1963)
as Housewife
Millions Like Us (1943)
as Landlady
Brothers in Law (1957)
as Mrs. Potter
Small Hotel (1957)
as Mrs. Gammon
Nothing Barred (1961)
as Elsie
The Silken Affair (1956)
as Receptionist
Top Secret (1952)
as Mrs. Tidmarsh
The Hills of Donegal (1947)
as Mrs. Mactavish
It's Never Too Late (1956)
as Neighbour
Uncensored (1942)
as Frau Von Koerner
Watch It, Sailor! (1961)
as Edie Hornett
Great Day (1945)
as Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard (1940)
as Miss Bell
English Without Tears (1944)
as (uncredited)
One Wild Oat (1951)
as Emily Pepys
Desert Mice (1959)
as Miss Maud Patch
The Terror (1938)
as Kitchen Maid
Temptation Harbour (1947)
as Ethel Gowshall
Riding High (1981)
as Gran
Silent Dust (1949)
as Cook
The Perfect Woman (1949)
as Mrs. Butters
Burnt Evidence (1954)
as Mrs. Raymond
Hotel du Lac (1986)
as Madame de Bonneuil
The Crowning Touch (1959)
as Bebe
Get Cracking (1943)
as Maggie Turner
Double Bunk (1961)
as Mrs. Harper
Inn for Trouble (1960)
as Lily
Cardboard Cavalier (1949)
as Lady Agnes
Mr. Emmanuel (1944)
as Trude
The Spell of Amy Nugent (1941)
as Mrs. Nugent
Treasure Hunt (1952)
as Nanny
The Mini-Affair (1967)
as Cook
Strange Boarders (1938)
as Mrs. Dewar
For You Alone (1945)
as Miss Trotter
Look at Life: Saturday Special (1969)
as Self
Gasbags (1941)
as Burgomaster's wife
Dark Secret (1949)
as 'Woody' Woodman
Partners in Crime (1942)
as Mrs. Wilson
The Flemish Farm (1943)
as Frau
Lionheart (1968)
as Lil
Rhythm Serenade (1943)
Actor
George and Margaret (1940)
as Beer
Room to Let (1976)
as Lady on Crossing