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Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Birthday
December 27, 1901
Died
November 29, 1987
Place of Birth
Maida Vale, London, England, UK
Irene Handl
1.0 Popularity
Biography
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
🎬
0.0
Never Say Die
1987
5.4
Mrs Larkin
Absolute Beginners
1986
3.0
Madame de Bonneuil
Hotel du Lac
1986
🎬
0.0
Nurse
Theatre Night
1985
7.8
Gwenneth
In Sickness and in Health
1985
6.3
Clinging Ivey
Super Gran
1985
8.2
Grand Old Lady
It's Your Move
1982
7.0
Self
The Kenny Everett Television Show
1982
🎬
0.0
Cousin Looby
Legacy of Murder
1982
4.4
Gran
Riding High
1981
Credits
🎬
Never Say Die
1987
0.0
Absolute Beginners
as Mrs Larkin
1986
5.4
Hotel du Lac
as Madame de Bonneuil
1986
3.0
🎬
Theatre Night
as Nurse
1985
0.0
In Sickness and in Health
as Gwenneth
1985
7.8
Super Gran
as Clinging Ivey
1985
6.3
It's Your Move
as Grand Old Lady
1982
8.2
The Kenny Everett Television Show
as Self
1982
7.0
🎬
Legacy of Murder
as Cousin Looby
1982
0.0
Riding High
as Gran
1981
4.4
The Best of the Adventures
as Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
1981
5.5
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
as Cinema Usherette
1980
6.2
Metal Mickey
as Granny
1980
5.2
The Cannon & Ball Show
as Irene The Neigbour
1979
0.0
The Light Princess
as Nanny
1978
7.0
The Hound of the Baskervilles
as Mrs. Barrymore
1978
4.3
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
as Miss Wormwood
1977
5.5
Come Play with Me
as Lady Bovington
1977
4.6
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
as Mrs. Phillimore
1977
4.2
Adventures of a Private Eye
as Miss Friggin
1977
4.0
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
as Miss Slenderparts
1976
4.3
🎬
Maggie and Her
as Mrs. Perry
1976
7.0
🎬
Room to Let
as Lady on crossing
1976
0.0
For the Love of Ada
as Ada Bingley
1972
7.3
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
as Mrs. Hudson
1970
6.8
🎬
Ben Travers Farces
as Mrs. Bugle
1970
0.0
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
as Winnie Wainwhisle
1970
6.7
Doctor in Trouble
as Mrs. Dailey
1970
4.6
For the Love of Ada
as Ada Cresswell
1970
7.3
🎬
World in Ferment
as Madame Astoria
1969
0.0
The Italian Job
as Miss Peach
1969
7.0
Look at Life: Saturday Special
as Self
1969
0.0
Wonderwall
as Mrs. Peurofoy
1968
5.0
🎬
Mum's Boys
1968
0.0
Lionheart
as Lil
1968
6.0
Smashing Time
as Mrs Gimble
1967
6.2
The Mini-Affair
as Cook
1967
0.0
The Wrong Box
as Mrs. Hackett
1966
6.5
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
as Mrs. Delt
1966
6.2
You Must Be Joking
as Elderly Woman
1965
5.1
🎬
The Importance of Being Earnest
1964
0.0
Theatre 625
as Agnes Oaks
1964
7.2
Heavens Above!
as Rene Smith
1963
6.4
Just for Fun
as Housewife
1963
3.7
🎬
Stryker of the Yard
1961
0.0
Nothing Barred
as Elsie
1961
6.5
Watch It, Sailor!
as Edie Hornett
1961
6.5
Double Bunk
as Mrs. Harper
1961
5.7
A Weekend with Lulu
as Florence Bell
1961
5.4
The Rebel
as Mrs. Crevatte
1961
7.8
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
as Miss Harker-Parker
1960
6.4
Two-Way Stretch
as Mrs. Price
1960
6.7
The Night We Got the Bird
as Ma
1960
4.5
No Kidding
as Mrs. Spicer
1960
5.6
A French Mistress
as Staff Sergeant Hodges
1960
5.7
Make Mine Mink
as Madame Spolinski
1960
7.1
Doctor in Love
as Professor MacRitchie
1960
5.2
School for Scoundrels
as Mrs Stringer
1960
6.9
Carry On Constable
as Willie's Mother
1960
6.3
Inn for Trouble
as Lily
1960
6.5
Upstairs and Downstairs
as Large Woman
1959
5.6
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
as Mrs Billingsgate
1959
5.2
I'm All Right Jack
as Mrs. Kite
1959
6.6
Left Right and Centre
as Mrs. Maggs
1959
6.0
🎬
The Crowning Touch
as Bebe
1959
0.0
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
as Mrs. Carter
1959
5.9
Carry On Nurse
as Marge Hickson
1959
6.4
Desert Mice
as Miss Maud Patch
1959
6.0
🎬
Educating Archie
as Mrs. Twissle
1958
0.0
Next to No Time
as Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
1958
8.0
Law and Disorder
as Woman in Train
1958
6.2
The Key
as Clerk
1958
6.0
Happy Is the Bride
as Madame Edna
1958
6.2
Small Hotel
as Mrs. Gammon
1957
6.5
Brothers in Law
as Mrs. Potter
1957
7.1
The Silken Affair
as Receptionist
1956
1.0
Hancock's Half Hour
1956
7.3
It's Never Too Late
as Neighbour
1956
6.0
Who Done It?
as Customer (uncredited)
1956
5.1
The Adventures of Robin Hood
as Polly
1955
6.3
🎬
Strange Experiences
as Women
1955
0.0
A Kid for Two Farthings
as Mrs. Abramowitz
1955
6.6
Mad About Men
as Mme. Blanche
1954
6.4
The Belles of St. Trinian's
as Miss Gale
1954
6.3
Burnt Evidence
as Mrs. Raymond
1954
5.5
The Weak and the Wicked
as Waitress
1954
6.4
Meet Mr. Lucifer
as Lady with the Dog
1953
5.1
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
as Rosie
1953
6.0
Top Secret
as Mrs. Tidmarsh
1952
6.0
Treasure Hunt
as Nanny
1952
5.4
Young Wives' Tale
as Nanny (uncredited)
1951
5.3
One Wild Oat
as Emily Pepys
1951
4.5
Stage Fright
as Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
1950
6.8
Dark Secret
as 'Woody' Woodman
1949
0.0
Adam and Evelyne
as Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
1949
6.6
The Perfect Woman
as Mrs. Butters
1949
6.0
For Them That Trespass
as Inn Proprietress
1949
5.0
Cardboard Cavalier
as Lady Agnes
1949
5.7
Silent Dust
as Cook
1949
7.3
Woman Hater
as Mrs. Fletcher
1948
7.0
The Hills of Donegal
as Mrs. Mactavish
1947
4.5
The Shop at Sly Corner
as Ruby Towser
1947
6.3
Temptation Harbour
as Ethel Gowshall
1947
5.1
🎬
I'll Turn to You
as Mrs. Gammon
1946
5.0
Brief Encounter
as The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
1945
7.7
Great Day
as Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
1945
7.3
For You Alone
as Miss Trotter
1945
0.0
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
as Mrs. Victory
1945
5.1
Medal for the General
as Mrs. Farnsworth
1944
6.5
Mr. Emmanuel
as Trude
1944
6.8
Give Us the Moon
as Miss Haddock
1944
6.2
English Without Tears
as (uncredited)
1944
5.7
🎬
It's in the Bag
as Mrs. Beam
1944
5.2
Rhythm Serenade
1943
6.5
The Flemish Farm
as Frau
1943
5.6
I'll Walk Beside You
as Ma Perkins
1943
5.0
Millions Like Us
as Landlady
1943
5.5
Get Cracking
as Maggie Turner
1943
6.5
Uncensored
as Frau Von Koerner
1942
0.0
Partners in Crime
as Mrs. Wilson
1942
0.0
🎬
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
as Councillor
1941
0.0
"Pimpernel" Smith
as Bit Part
1941
7.2
The Spell of Amy Nugent
as Mrs. Nugent
1941
5.0
Gasbags
as Burgomaster's wife
1941
5.5
George and Margaret
as Beer
1940
0.0
Night Train to Munich
as Stationmaster (uncredited)
1940
7.3
Girl in the News
as Gertrude Mary Blaker
1940
6.4
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
as Miss Bell
1940
6.6
On the Night of the Fire
as Neighbour
1939
5.2
The Terror
as Kitchen Maid
1938
6.3
Strange Boarders
as Mrs. Dewar
1938
0.0