Irene Handl
Acting • Born 1901-12-27 – 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.
Filmography
133 credits
The Italian Job
Movie • 1969
Miss Peach
The Pure Hell of St Trinian's
Movie • 1960
Miss Harker-Parker
Carry On Constable
Movie • 1960
Willie's Mother
I'm All Right Jack
Movie • 1959
Mrs. Kite
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Movie • 1959
Mrs. Carter
School for Scoundrels
Movie • 1960
Mrs Stringer
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
Movie • 1966
Mrs. Delt
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Movie • 1970
Winnie Wainwhisle
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Movie • 1980
Cinema Usherette
Wonderwall
Movie • 1969
Mrs. Peurofoy
Stage Fright
Movie • 1950
Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
The Mini-Affair
Movie • 1967
Cook
No Kidding
Movie • 1960
Mrs. Spicer
Uncensored
Movie • 1942
Frau Von Koerner
It's Your Move
Movie • 1982
Grand Old Lady
Come Play with Me
Movie • 1977
Lady Bovington
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
Movie • 1977
Mrs. Phillimore
The Perfect Woman
Movie • 1949
Mrs. Butters
A Weekend with Lulu
Movie • 1961
Florence Bell
Top Secret
Movie • 1952
Mrs. Tidmarsh
Silent Dust
Movie • 1949
Cook
For You Alone
Movie • 1945
Miss Trotter
The Night We Got the Bird
Movie • 1960
Ma
Mr. Emmanuel
Movie • 1944
Trude
Watch It, Sailor!
Movie • 1961
Edie Hornett
Give Us the Moon
Movie • 1944
Miss Haddock
Cardboard Cavalier
Movie • 1949
Lady Agnes
Heavens Above!
Movie • 1963
Rene Smith
The Shop at Sly Corner
Movie • 1947
Ruby Towser
For the Love of Ada
Movie • 1972
Ada Bingley
Adventures of a Private Eye
Movie • 1977
Miss Friggin
Happy Is the Bride
Movie • 1958
Madame Edna
You Must Be Joking
Movie • 1965
Elderly Woman
The Importance of Being Earnest
Movie • 1964
I'll Turn to You
Movie • 1946
Mrs. Gammon
A Kid for Two Farthings
Movie • 1955
Mrs. Abramowitz
Two-Way Stretch
Movie • 1960
Mrs. Price
Left Right and Centre
Movie • 1959
Mrs. Maggs
Temptation Harbour
Movie • 1947
Ethel Gowshall
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
Movie • 1945
Mrs. Victory
On the Night of the Fire
Movie • 1939
Neighbour
George and Margaret
Movie • 1940
Beer
Strange Boarders
Movie • 1938
Mrs. Dewar
The Flemish Farm
Movie • 1943
Frau
Make Mine Mink
Movie • 1960
Madame Spolinski
Desert Mice
Movie • 1959
Miss Maud Patch
For Them That Trespass
Movie • 1949
Inn Proprietress
Double Bunk
Movie • 1961
Mrs. Harper
Nothing Barred
Movie • 1961
Elsie
Inn for Trouble
Movie • 1960
Lily
Girl in the News
Movie • 1940
Gertrude Mary Blaker
Small Hotel
Movie • 1957
Mrs. Gammon
Next to No Time
Movie • 1958
Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
Law and Disorder
Movie • 1958
Woman in Train
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
Movie • 1940
Miss Bell
Doctor in Love
Movie • 1960
Professor MacRitchie
Rhythm Serenade
Movie • 1943
Brief Encounter
Movie • 1945
The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
The Rebel
Movie • 1961
Mrs. Crevatte
Carry On Nurse
Movie • 1959
Marge Hickson
It's in the Bag
Movie • 1944
Mrs. Beam
Lionheart
Movie • 1968
Lil
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Movie • 1970
Mrs. Hudson
The Wrong Box
Movie • 1966
Mrs. Hackett
The Spell of Amy Nugent
Movie • 1941
Mrs. Nugent
Room to Let
Movie • 1976
Lady on crossing
Absolute Beginners
Movie • 1986
Mrs Larkin
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
Movie • 1941
Councillor
Gasbags
Movie • 1941
Burgomaster's wife
"Pimpernel" Smith
Movie • 1941
Bit Part
Medal for the General
Movie • 1944
Mrs. Farnsworth
I'll Walk Beside You
Movie • 1943
Ma Perkins
Smashing Time
Movie • 1967
Mrs Gimble
Doctor in Trouble
Movie • 1970
Mrs. Dailey
The Key
Movie • 1958
Clerk
Millions Like Us
Movie • 1943
Landlady
Hotel du Lac
Movie • 1986
Madame de Bonneuil
Treasure Hunt
Movie • 1952
Nanny
The Hound of the Baskervilles
Movie • 1978
Mrs. Barrymore
The Belles of St Trinian's
Movie • 1954
Miss Gale
The Light Princess
Movie • 1978
Nanny
Riding High
Movie • 1981
Gran
Mad About Men
Movie • 1954
Mme. Blanche
Partners in Crime
Movie • 1942
Mrs. Wilson
Get Cracking
Movie • 1943
Maggie Turner
Burnt Evidence
Movie • 1954
Mrs. Raymond
The Weak and the Wicked
Movie • 1954
Waitress
Brothers in Law
Movie • 1957
Mrs. Potter
The Crowning Touch
Movie • 1959
Bebe
The Silken Affair
Movie • 1956
Receptionist
It's Never Too Late
Movie • 1956
Neighbour
The Terror
Movie • 1938
Kitchen Maid
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
Movie • 1959
Mrs Billingsgate
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
Movie • 1953
Rosie
The Hills of Donegal
Movie • 1947
Mrs. Mactavish
Night Train to Munich
Movie • 1940
Stationmaster (uncredited)
Great Day
Movie • 1945
Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
Just for Fun
Movie • 1963
Housewife
English Without Tears
Movie • 1944
(uncredited)
Woman Hater
Movie • 1948
Mrs. Fletcher
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
Movie • 1977
Miss Wormwood
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
Movie • 1976
Miss Slenderparts
Dark Secret
Movie • 1949
'Woody' Woodman
Adam and Evelyne
Movie • 1949
Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
Upstairs and Downstairs
Movie • 1959
Large Woman
Who Done It?
Movie • 1956
Customer (uncredited)
Meet Mr. Lucifer
Movie • 1953
Lady with the Dog
A French Mistress
Movie • 1960
Staff Sergeant Hodges
Look at Life: Saturday Special
Movie • 1969
Self
One Wild Oat
Movie • 1951
Emily Pepys
Young Wives' Tale
Movie • 1951
Nanny (uncredited)
The Best of the Adventures
Movie • 1981
Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
For the Love of Ada
TV • 1970
Ada Cresswell
Metal Mickey
TV • 1980
Granny
Hancock's Half Hour
TV • 1956
The Adventures of Robin Hood
TV • 1955
Polly
Never Say Die
TV • 1987
Mum's Boys
TV • 1968
Maggie and Her
TV • 1976
Mrs. Perry
Stryker of the Yard
TV • 1961
The Kenny Everett Television Show
TV • 1982
Self
The Cannon & Ball Show
TV • 1979
Irene The Neigbour
Super Gran
TV • 1985
Clinging Ivey
World in Ferment
TV • 1969
Madame Astoria
Theatre Night
TV • 1985
Nurse
Legacy of Murder
TV • 1982
Cousin Looby
Educating Archie
TV • 1958
Mrs. Twissle
Ben Travers Farces
TV • 1970
Mrs. Bugle
In Sickness and in Health
TV • 1985
Gwenneth
Theatre 625
TV • 1964
Agnes Oaks
Strange Experiences
TV • 1955
Women
The Fosters
TV • 1976
Mrs Draper
Mapp & Lucia
TV • 1985
Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield