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