1901-12-27 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.
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Absolute Beginners | Mrs Larkin | 1986-04-04 |
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Hotel du Lac | Madame de Bonneuil | 1986-03-02 |
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It's Your Move | Grand Old Lady | 1982-10-18 |
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Riding High | Gran | 1981-05-01 |
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The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle | Cinema Usherette | 1980-09-11 |
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The Hound of the Baskervilles | Mrs. Barrymore | 1978-08-01 |
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The Light Princess | Nanny | 1978-12-24 |
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Stand up, Virgin Soldiers | Mrs. Phillimore | 1977-04-04 |
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Adventures of a Private Eye | Miss Friggin | 1977-03-04 |
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Come Play with Me | Lady Bovington | 1977-04-28 |
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The Last Remake of Beau Geste | Miss Wormwood | 1977-06-15 |
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Room to Let | Lady on crossing | 1976-01-01 |
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Confessions of a Driving Instructor | Miss Slenderparts | 1976-09-01 |
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For the Love of Ada | Ada Bingley | 1972-01-01 |
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Doctor in Trouble | Mrs Dailey | 1970-06-16 |
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On a Clear Day You Can See Forever | Winnie Wainwhisle | 1970-06-17 |
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The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes | Mrs. Hudson | 1970-10-29 |
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The Italian Job | Miss Peach | 1969-06-02 |
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Look at Life: Saturday Special | Self | 1969-01-01 |
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Wonderwall | Mrs. Peurofoy | 1968-05-17 |
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Lionheart | Lil | 1968-01-01 |
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Smashing Time | Mrs Gimble | 1967-12-20 |
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The Mini-Affair | Cook | 1967-01-01 |
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The Wrong Box | Mrs. Hackett | 1966-06-19 |
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Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment | Mrs. Delt | 1966-04-03 |
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You Must Be Joking | Elderly Woman | 1965-08-03 |
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The Importance of Being Earnest | 1964-11-15 | |
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Just for Fun | Housewife | 1963-02-01 |
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Heavens Above! | Rene Smith | 1963-05-20 |
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Nothing Barred | Elsie | 1961-10-10 |
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Double Bunk | Mrs. Harper | 1961-05-06 |
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A Weekend with Lulu | Florence Bell | 1961-04-10 |
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The Rebel | Mrs. Crevatte | 1961-03-07 |
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Watch It, Sailor! | Edie Hornett | 1961-08-14 |
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A French Mistress | Staff Sergeant Hodges | 1960-08-25 |
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Inn for Trouble | Lily | 1960-01-31 |
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Make Mine Mink | Madame Spolinski | 1960-08-09 |
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Doctor in Love | Professor MacRitchie | 1960-07-12 |
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No Kidding | Mrs. Spicer | 1960-11-01 |
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School for Scoundrels | Mrs. Stringer | 1960-03-24 |
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Two-Way Stretch | Mrs. Price | 1960-12-20 |
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The Night We Got the Bird | Ma | 1960-11-03 |
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The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's | Miss Harker-Parker | 1960-12-22 |
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Carry On Constable | Distraught Mother | 1960-02-22 |
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The Night We Dropped a Clanger | Mrs Billingsgate | 1959-10-10 |
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The Crowning Touch | Bebe | 1959-06-01 |
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Carry On Nurse | Mrs Hickson | 1959-01-30 |
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Desert Mice | Miss Patch | 1959-01-05 |
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Upstairs and Downstairs | Large Woman | 1959-11-02 |
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I'm All Right Jack | Mrs. Kite | 1959-08-18 |
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Carlton-Browne of the F.O. | Mrs. Carter | 1959-03-10 |
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Left Right and Centre | Mrs. Maggs | 1959-06-23 |
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Happy Is the Bride | Madame Edna | 1958-03-04 |
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The Key | Clerk | 1958-05-28 |
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Law and Disorder | Woman in Train | 1958-06-09 |
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Next to No Time | Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer | 1958-08-04 |
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Small Hotel | Mrs. Gammon | 1957-10-14 |
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Brothers in Law | Mrs. Potter | 1957-03-04 |
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Who Done It? | Customer (uncredited) | 1956-03-20 |
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The Silken Affair | Receptionist | 1956-10-02 |
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It's Never Too Late | Neighbour | 1956-05-07 |
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A Kid for Two Farthings | Mrs. Abramowitz | 1955-08-15 |
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The Belles of St. Trinian's | Miss Gale | 1954-09-28 |
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The Weak and the Wicked | Waitress | 1954-02-02 |
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Burnt Evidence | Mrs. Raymond | 1954-07-05 |
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Mad About Men | Mme. Blanche | 1954-11-16 |
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Meet Mr. Lucifer | Lady with the Dog | 1953-11-30 |
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The Wedding of Lilli Marlene | Rosie | 1953-11-30 |
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Treasure Hunt | Nanny | 1952-06-01 |
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Top Secret | Mrs. Tidmarsh | 1952-11-10 |
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Young Wives' Tale | Nanny (uncredited) | 1951-11-01 |
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One Wild Oat | Emily Pepys | 1951-05-16 |
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Stage Fright | Mrs. Mason (uncredited) | 1950-02-23 |
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For Them That Trespass | Inn Proprietress | 1949-04-21 |
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The Perfect Woman | Mrs. Butters | 1949-05-23 |
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Cardboard Cavalier | Lady Agnes | 1949-03-31 |
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Dark Secret | 'Woody' Woodman | 1949-10-30 |
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Silent Dust | Cook | 1949-02-01 |
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Adam and Evelyne | Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited) | 1949-05-31 |
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Woman Hater | Mrs. Fletcher | 1948-10-13 |
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The Shop at Sly Corner | Ruby Towser | 1947-03-10 |
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Temptation Harbour | Ethel Gowshall | 1947-02-27 |
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The Hills of Donegal | Mrs. Mactavish | 1947-09-01 |
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I'll Turn to You | Mrs. Gammon | 1946-06-17 |
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For You Alone | Miss Trotter | 1945-05-28 |
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Kiss the Bride Goodbye | Mrs. Victory | 1945-01-28 |
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Brief Encounter | The Cellist and Organist (uncredited) | 1945-11-24 |
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Great Day | Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall. | 1945-07-09 |
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Medal for the General | Mrs. Farnsworth | 1944-11-06 |
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English Without Tears | (uncredited) | 1944-07-28 |
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It's in the Bag | Mrs. Beam | 1944-02-07 |
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Mr. Emmanuel | Trude | 1944-08-02 |
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Give Us the Moon | Miss Haddock | 1944-07-31 |
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Millions Like Us | Landlady | 1943-06-01 |
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Get Cracking | Maggie Turner | 1943-05-17 |
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Rhythm Serenade | 1943-10-11 | |
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I'll Walk Beside You | Ma Perkins | 1943-08-16 |
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The Flemish Farm | Frau | 1943-09-06 |
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Uncensored | Frau Von Koerner | 1942-08-24 |
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Partners in Crime | Mrs. Wilson | 1942-06-02 |
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'Pimpernel' Smith | Bit Part | 1941-07-28 |
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Gasbags | Burgomaster's wife | 1941-02-01 |
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Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light | Councillor | 1941-12-30 |
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Spellbound | Mrs. Nugent | 1941-05-10 |
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Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard | Miss Bell | 1940-04-13 |
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George and Margaret | Beer | 1940-11-30 |
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Girl in the News | Gertrude Mary Blaker | 1940-08-28 |
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Night Train to Munich | Stationmaster (uncredited) | 1940-08-31 |
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On the Night of the Fire | Neighbour | 1939-10-26 |
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Strange Boarders | Mrs. Dewar | 1938-05-01 |
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The Terror | Kitchen Maid | 1938-05-02 |
