Irene Handl
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.
Fotos
Películas (112)
Absolute Beginners
1986 · Mrs Larkin
Hotel du Lac
1986 · Madame de Bonneuil
It's Your Move
1982 · Grand Old Lady
Riding High
1981 · Gran
The Best of the Adventures
1981 · Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
1980 · Cinema Usherette
The Light Princess
1978 · Nanny
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1978 · Mrs. Barrymore
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
1977 · Miss Wormwood
Come Play with Me
1977 · Lady Bovington
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
1977 · Mrs. Phillimore
Adventures of a Private Eye
1977 · Miss Friggin
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
1976 · Miss Slenderparts
Room to Let
1976 · Lady on Crossing
For the Love of Ada
1972 · Ada Bingley
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
1970 · Mrs. Hudson
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1970 · Winnie Wainwhisle
Doctor in Trouble
1970 · Mrs. Dailey
The Italian Job
1969 · Miss Peach
Wonderwall
1969 · Mrs. Peurofoy
Look at Life: Saturday Special
1969 · Self
Lionheart
1968 · Lil
Smashing Time
1967 · Mrs Gimble
The Mini-Affair
1967 · Cook
The Wrong Box
1966 · Mrs. Hackett
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
1966 · Mrs. Delt
You Must Be Joking
1965 · Elderly Woman
The Importance of Being Earnest
1964
Heavens Above!
1963 · Rene Smith
Just for Fun
1963 · Housewife
Nothing Barred
1961 · Elsie
Watch It, Sailor!
1961 · Edie Hornett
Double Bunk
1961 · Mrs. Harper
A Weekend with Lulu
1961 · Florence Bell
The Rebel
1961 · Mrs. Crevatte
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
1960 · Miss Harker-Parker
Two-Way Stretch
1960 · Mrs. Price
The Night We Got the Bird
1960 · Ma
No Kidding
1960 · Mrs. Spicer
A French Mistress
1960 · Staff Sergeant Hodges
Make Mine Mink
1960 · Madame Spolinski
Doctor in Love
1960 · Professor MacRitchie
School for Scoundrels
1960 · Mrs Stringer
Carry On Constable
1960 · Willie's Mother
Inn for Trouble
1960 · Lily
Upstairs and Downstairs
1959 · Large Woman
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
1959 · Mrs Billingsgate
I'm All Right Jack
1959 · Mrs. Kite
Left Right and Centre
1959 · Mrs. Maggs
The Crowning Touch
1959 · Bebe
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
1959 · Mrs. Carter
Carry On Nurse
1959 · Marge Hickson
Desert Mice
1959 · Miss Maud Patch
Next to No Time
1958 · Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
Law and Disorder
1958 · Woman in Train
The Key
1958 · Clerk
Happy Is the Bride
1958 · Madame Edna
Small Hotel
1957 · Mrs. Gammon
Brothers in Law
1957 · Mrs. Potter
The Silken Affair
1956 · Receptionist
It's Never Too Late
1956 · Neighbour
Who Done It?
1956 · Customer (uncredited)
A Kid for Two Farthings
1955 · Mrs. Abramowitz
Mad About Men
1954 · Mme. Blanche
The Belles of St Trinian's
1954 · Miss Gale
Burnt Evidence
1954 · Mrs. Raymond
The Weak and the Wicked
1954 · Waitress
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
1953 · Rosie
Meet Mr. Lucifer
1953 · Lady with the Dog
Top Secret
1952 · Mrs. Tidmarsh
Treasure Hunt
1952 · Nanny
Young Wives' Tale
1951 · Nanny (uncredited)
One Wild Oat
1951 · Emily Pepys
Stage Fright
1950 · Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
Dark Secret
1949 · 'Woody' Woodman
Adam and Evelyne
1949 · Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
The Perfect Woman
1949 · Mrs. Butters
For Them That Trespass
1949 · Inn Proprietress
Cardboard Cavalier
1949 · Lady Agnes
Silent Dust
1949 · Cook
Woman Hater
1948 · Mrs. Fletcher
The Hills of Donegal
1947 · Mrs. Mactavish
The Shop at Sly Corner
1947 · Ruby Towser
Temptation Harbour
1947 · Ethel Gowshall
I'll Turn to You
1946 · Mrs. Gammon
Brief Encounter
1945 · The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
Great Day
1945 · Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
For You Alone
1945 · Miss Trotter
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
1945 · Mrs. Victory
Medal for the General
1944 · Mrs. Farnsworth
Mr. Emmanuel
1944 · Trude
Give Us the Moon
1944 · Miss Haddock
English Without Tears
1944 · (uncredited)
It's in the Bag
1944 · Mrs. Beam
Rhythm Serenade
1943
The Flemish Farm
1943 · Frau
I'll Walk Beside You
1943 · Ma Perkins
Millions Like Us
1943 · Landlady
Get Cracking
1943 · Maggie Turner
Uncensored
1942 · Frau Von Koerner
Partners in Crime
1942 · Mrs. Wilson
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
1941 · Councillor
"Pimpernel" Smith
1941 · Bit Part
The Spell of Amy Nugent
1941 · Mrs. Nugent
Gasbags
1941 · Burgomaster's wife
George and Margaret
1940 · Beer
Night Train to Munich
1940 · Stationmaster (uncredited)
Girl in the News
1940 · Gertrude Mary Blaker
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
1940 · Miss Bell
On the Night of the Fire
1939 · Neighbour
The Terror
1938 · Kitchen Maid
Strange Boarders
1938 · Mrs. Dewar
Series (26)
Never Say Die
1987
All in Good Faith
1985 · Annie Freeman
Theatre Night
1985 · Nurse
In Sickness and in Health
1985 · Gwenneth
Mapp & Lucia
1985 · Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield
Super Gran
1985 · Clinging Ivey
Dramarama
1983 · Maureen
The Kenny Everett Television Show
1982 · Self
Legacy of Murder
1982 · Cousin Looby
Metal Mickey
1980 · Granny
The Cannon & Ball Show
1979 · Irene The Neigbour
Maggie and Her
1976 · Mrs Perry
The Fosters
1976 · Mrs Draper
A Legacy
1975 · Grandmama Merz
Ben Travers Farces
1970 · Mrs. Bugle
For the Love of Ada
1970 · Ada Cresswell
World in Ferment
1969 · Madame Astoria
Mum's Boys
1968
Misleading Cases
1967 · Mrs Philby-Potter
Theatre 625
1964 · Agnes Oaks
Stryker of the Yard
1961
Educating Archie
1958 · Mrs. Twissle
Armchair Theatre
1956 · Mrs. Micawber
Hancock's Half Hour
1956
The Adventures of Robin Hood
1955 · Polly
Strange Experiences
1955 · Women