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