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