Athene Seyler

Birthday: 1889-05-31
Deathday: 1990-09-12
Birthplace: Hackney, London, England, UK
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 1889 – 12 September 1990) was an English actress.

Although better known as a stage actress - she first appeared on the stage in 1909 - she made her film debut in 1921, and became known for playing slightly dotty old ladies in many British films from the 1930s to the 1960s.

Her most memorable stage credits included Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, and a double-act, with her good friend Dame Sybil Thorndike, as the murderous spinster sisters in Arsenic and Old Lace.

Her film and television career lasted into the 1960s, and included roles in The Citadel (1938), Night of the Demon (1957), and The Avengers (1964, 1965). She was also a regular cast member in screen adaptations of Charles Dickens' novels.

She virtually retired from acting after 1970, but continued making public appearances until well into the 1980s. In 1990, at the age of 101, she appeared at the National Theatre, talking about her long life and career.

Athene Seyler was President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1950, and a member of the Theatrical Ladies' Guild. She also wrote The Craft of Comedy.

She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959.

Credits

Year Title Character
1966-04-09 Don't Utter a Note Nellie Pringle
1963-03-31 The Invasion Lady Corm
1963-01-03 Nurse on Wheels Miss Farthingale
1962-09-14 I Thank a Fool Aunt Heather Chandler
1962-08-05 The Girl on the Boat Mrs Adelaide Hignett
1962-05-01 Two and Two Make Six Aunt Phoebe Tonks
1962-02-22 Satan Never Sleeps Sister Agness
1961-07-12 Francis of Assisi Aunt Buona
1960-12-26 Visa to Canton Mao Tai Tai
1960-08-25 A French Mistress Beatrice Peake
1960-08-09 Make Mine Mink Dame Beatrice Appleby
1958-12-11 The Inn of the Sixth Happiness Jeannie Lawson
1958-03-04 Happy Is the Bride Aunt Harriet
1958-02-07 A Tale of Two Cities Miss Pross
1957-11-09 Night of the Demon Mrs. Karswell
1957-09-03 Campbell's Kingdom Miss Abigail
1957-06-01 How to Murder a Rich Uncle Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
1957-03-26 Doctor at Large Lady Hawkins
1956-06-19 Yield to the Night Miss Bligh
1955-03-15 As Long as They're Happy Mrs. Arbuthnot
1954-06-20 For Better, for Worse Miss Mainbrace
1954-02-02 The Weak and the Wicked Millie Williams
1953-08-24 The Beggar's Opera Mrs. Trapes
1952-11-14 The Pickwick Papers Miss Witherfield
1952-11-01 Made in Heaven Miss Honeycroft
1952-06-01 Treasure Hunt Consuelo Howard
1952-02-05 Secret People Mrs. Reginald Kellick
1951-11-01 Young Wives' Tale Nanny Gallop
1951-02-19 The Franchise Affair Aunt Lin
1949-03-16 The Queen of Spades Princess Ivashin
1948-03-15 The First Gentleman Miss Knight
1947-08-13 Jassy
1947-03-12 The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby Miss La Creevy
1943-09-20 Dear Octopus Aunt Belle
1941-12-01 Letter from Home Mrs Ashford
1941-04-19 Quiet Wedding Aunt Mary
1939-07-31 Young Man's Fancy Milliner
1939-06-30 The Saint in London Mother Buckley
1938-12-02 The Ware Case Mrs Pinto
1938-10-29 The Citadel Lady Raebank
1938-05-16 Jane Steps Out Grandma
1938-04-15 Sailing Along Victoria Gulliver
1937-09-13 Non-Stop New York Aunt Veronica
1937-03-31 The Lilac Domino Madame Alary
1937-01-09 The Mill on the Floss Mrs. Pullet
1937-01-01 The Sky’s the Limit Miss Prinny
1936-12-16 Sensation Madame Henry
1936-09-30 Southern Roses Mrs. Rowland
1936-05-06 It's Love Again Mrs. Durland
1935-11-26 Scrooge Scrooge's Charwoman
1935-11-05 Moscow Nights Madame Anna Sabine
1935-05-16 Drake of England Queen Elizabeth
1934-01-01 Blossom Time Archduchess Maria Victoria
1934-01-01 The Private Life of Don Juan Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
1933-08-08 Early to Bed Frau Waiser
1932-10-31 Tell Me Tonight Mrs. Pategg
1931-11-12 The Perfect Lady Lady Westhaven
1921-11-01 The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick Rachel Wardle