Cast
Irene Handl
Acting
Cast
Irene Handl
Known for
Acting
Born
1901-12-27
From
Maida Vale, London, England, UK
Died
1987-11-29
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.
The Italian Job
as Miss Peach
Stage Fright
as Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
Brief Encounter
as The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
Absolute Beginners
as Mrs Larkin
Come Play with Me
as Lady Bovington
Carry On Nurse
as Marge Hickson
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
as Winnie Wainwhisle
Wonderwall
as Mrs. Peurofoy
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
as Mrs. Hudson
Adventures of a Private Eye
as Miss Friggin
"Pimpernel" Smith
as Bit Part
The Belles of St Trinian's
as Miss Gale
Doctor in Love
as Professor MacRitchie
I'm All Right Jack
as Mrs. Kite
Two-Way Stretch
as Mrs. Price
Woman Hater
as Mrs. Fletcher
The Key
as Clerk
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
as Miss Wormwood
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
as Mrs. Carter
The Shop at Sly Corner
as Ruby Towser
Treasure Hunt
as Nanny
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
as Miss Slenderparts
The Wrong Box
as Mrs. Hackett
Carry On Constable
as Willie's Mother
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
as Mrs. Delt
Upstairs and Downstairs
as Large Woman
Night Train to Munich
as Stationmaster (uncredited)
Doctor in Trouble
as Mrs. Dailey
Uncensored
as Frau Von Koerner
The Rebel
as Mrs. Crevatte
Left Right and Centre
as Mrs. Maggs
Millions Like Us
as Landlady
The Hound of the Baskervilles
as Mrs. Barrymore
Gasbags
as Burgomaster's wife
Top Secret
as Mrs. Tidmarsh
Next to No Time
as Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
Adam and Evelyne
as Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
as Cinema Usherette
Who Done It?
as Customer (uncredited)
The Light Princess
as Nanny
Law and Disorder
as Woman in Train
Mad About Men
as Mme. Blanche
Young Wives' Tale
as Nanny (uncredited)
Girl in the News
as Gertrude Mary Blaker
School for Scoundrels
as Mrs Stringer
Hotel du Lac
as Madame de Bonneuil
Meet Mr. Lucifer
as Lady with the Dog
Dark Secret
as 'Woody' Woodman
English Without Tears
as (uncredited)
Desert Mice
as Miss Maud Patch
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
as Miss Harker-Parker
Cardboard Cavalier
as Lady Agnes
The Night We Got the Bird
as Ma
The Best of the Adventures
as Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
A Kid for Two Farthings
as Mrs. Abramowitz
The Spell of Amy Nugent
as Mrs. Nugent
Medal for the General
as Mrs. Farnsworth
Just for Fun
as Housewife
A French Mistress
as Staff Sergeant Hodges
Brothers in Law
as Mrs. Potter
You Must Be Joking
as Elderly Woman
Burnt Evidence
as Mrs. Raymond
The Weak and the Wicked
as Waitress
Smashing Time
as Mrs Gimble
The Perfect Woman
as Mrs. Butters
Make Mine Mink
as Madame Spolinski
Get Cracking
as Maggie Turner
Silent Dust
as Cook
One Wild Oat
as Emily Pepys
Temptation Harbour
as Ethel Gowshall
Double Bunk
as Mrs. Harper
The Terror
as Kitchen Maid
It's Never Too Late
as Neighbour
Happy Is the Bride
as Madame Edna
Lionheart
as Lil
The Importance of Being Earnest
Rhythm Serenade
No Kidding
as Mrs. Spicer
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
as Mrs Billingsgate
On the Night of the Fire
as Neighbour
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
as Mrs. Victory
Heavens Above!
as Rene Smith
For You Alone
as Miss Trotter
Great Day
as Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
The Mini-Affair
as Cook
Riding High
as Gran
It's Your Move
as Grand Old Lady
For Them That Trespass
as Inn Proprietress
Mr. Emmanuel
as Trude
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
as Mrs. Phillimore
Inn for Trouble
as Lily
The Silken Affair
as Receptionist
For the Love of Ada
as Ada Bingley
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
as Miss Bell
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
as Rosie
Watch It, Sailor!
as Edie Hornett
It's in the Bag
as Mrs. Beam
Strange Boarders
as Mrs. Dewar
The Crowning Touch
as Bebe
Small Hotel
as Mrs. Gammon
I'll Walk Beside You
as Ma Perkins
Partners in Crime
as Mrs. Wilson
The Hills of Donegal
as Mrs. Mactavish
The Flemish Farm
as Frau
George and Margaret
as Beer
Nothing Barred
as Elsie
A Weekend with Lulu
as Florence Bell
I'll Turn to You
as Mrs. Gammon
Give Us the Moon
as Miss Haddock
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
as Councillor
Room to Let
as Lady on crossing
Look at Life: Saturday Special
as Self