Irene Handl

Acting

Born December 27, 1901 — Died November 29, 1987 Maida Vale, London, England, UK

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.

Movies(112)

Absolute Beginners

Mrs Larkin

1986

Hotel du Lac

Madame de Bonneuil

1986

It's Your Move

Grand Old Lady

1982

Riding High

Gran

1981

The Best of the Adventures

Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)

1981

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

Cinema Usherette

1980

The Light Princess

Nanny

1978

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Mrs. Barrymore

1978

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

Miss Wormwood

1977

Come Play with Me

Lady Bovington

1977

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers

Mrs. Phillimore

1977

Adventures of a Private Eye

Miss Friggin

1977

Confessions of a Driving Instructor

Miss Slenderparts

1976

Room to Let

Lady on crossing

1976

For the Love of Ada

Ada Bingley

1972

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Mrs. Hudson

1970

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

Winnie Wainwhisle

1970

Doctor in Trouble

Mrs. Dailey

1970

The Italian Job

Miss Peach

1969

Wonderwall

Mrs. Peurofoy

1969

Look at Life: Saturday Special

Self

1969

Lionheart

Lil

1968

Smashing Time

Mrs Gimble

1967

The Mini-Affair

Cook

1967

The Wrong Box

Mrs. Hackett

1966

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment

Mrs. Delt

1966

You Must Be Joking

Elderly Woman

1965

The Importance of Being Earnest

1964

Heavens Above!

Rene Smith

1963

Just for Fun

Housewife

1963

Nothing Barred

Elsie

1961

Watch It, Sailor!

Edie Hornett

1961

Double Bunk

Mrs. Harper

1961

A Weekend with Lulu

Florence Bell

1961

The Rebel

Mrs. Crevatte

1961

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's

Miss Harker-Parker

1960

Two-Way Stretch

Mrs. Price

1960

The Night We Got the Bird

1960

No Kidding

Mrs. Spicer

1960

A French Mistress

Staff Sergeant Hodges

1960

Make Mine Mink

Madame Spolinski

1960

Doctor in Love

Professor MacRitchie

1960

School for Scoundrels

Mrs Stringer

1960

Carry On Constable

Willie's Mother

1960

Inn for Trouble

Lily

1960

Upstairs and Downstairs

Large Woman

1959

The Night We Dropped a Clanger

Mrs Billingsgate

1959

I'm All Right Jack

Mrs. Kite

1959

Left Right and Centre

Mrs. Maggs

1959

The Crowning Touch

Bebe

1959

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

Mrs. Carter

1959

Carry On Nurse

Marge Hickson

1959

Desert Mice

Miss Maud Patch

1959

Next to No Time

Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer

1958

Law and Disorder

Woman in Train

1958

The Key

Clerk

1958

Happy Is the Bride

Madame Edna

1958

Small Hotel

Mrs. Gammon

1957

Brothers in Law

Mrs. Potter

1957

The Silken Affair

Receptionist

1956

It's Never Too Late

Neighbour

1956

Who Done It?

Customer (uncredited)

1956

A Kid for Two Farthings

Mrs. Abramowitz

1955

Mad About Men

Mme. Blanche

1954

The Belles of St Trinian's

Miss Gale

1954

Burnt Evidence

Mrs. Raymond

1954

The Weak and the Wicked

Waitress

1954

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene

Rosie

1953

Meet Mr. Lucifer

Lady with the Dog

1953

Top Secret

Mrs. Tidmarsh

1952

Treasure Hunt

Nanny

1952

Young Wives' Tale

Nanny (uncredited)

1951

One Wild Oat

Emily Pepys

1951

Stage Fright

Mrs. Mason (uncredited)

1950

Dark Secret

'Woody' Woodman

1949

Adam and Evelyne

Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)

1949

The Perfect Woman

Mrs. Butters

1949

For Them That Trespass

Inn Proprietress

1949

Cardboard Cavalier

Lady Agnes

1949

Silent Dust

Cook

1949

Woman Hater

Mrs. Fletcher

1948

The Hills of Donegal

Mrs. Mactavish

1947

The Shop at Sly Corner

Ruby Towser

1947

Temptation Harbour

Ethel Gowshall

1947

I'll Turn to You

Mrs. Gammon

1946

Brief Encounter

The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)

1945

Great Day

Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.

1945

For You Alone

Miss Trotter

1945

Kiss the Bride Goodbye

Mrs. Victory

1945

Medal for the General

Mrs. Farnsworth

1944

Mr. Emmanuel

Trude

1944

Give Us the Moon

Miss Haddock

1944

English Without Tears

(uncredited)

1944

It's in the Bag

Mrs. Beam

1944

Rhythm Serenade

1943

The Flemish Farm

Frau

1943

I'll Walk Beside You

Ma Perkins

1943

Millions Like Us

Landlady

1943

Get Cracking

Maggie Turner

1943

Uncensored

Frau Von Koerner

1942

Partners in Crime

Mrs. Wilson

1942

Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light

Councillor

1941

"Pimpernel" Smith

Bit Part

1941

The Spell of Amy Nugent

Mrs. Nugent

1941

Gasbags

Burgomaster's wife

1941

George and Margaret

Beer

1940

Night Train to Munich

Stationmaster (uncredited)

1940

Girl in the News

Gertrude Mary Blaker

1940

Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard

Miss Bell

1940

On the Night of the Fire

Neighbour

1939

The Terror

Kitchen Maid

1938

Strange Boarders

Mrs. Dewar

1938

Irene Handl

TV Shows(22)

Movies(112)