Irene Handl

Birthday: 1901-12-27
Deathday: 1987-11-29
Birthplace: Maida Vale, London, England, UK
Gender: Female
Owned By: Unowned

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.

Credits

Year Title Character
1986-04-04 Absolute Beginners Mrs Larkin
1986-03-02 Hotel du Lac Madame de Bonneuil
1982-10-18 It's Your Move Grand Old Lady
1981-05-01 Riding High Gran
1980-09-11 The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle Cinema Usherette
1978-12-24 The Light Princess Nanny
1978-08-01 The Hound of the Baskervilles Mrs. Barrymore
1977-06-15 The Last Remake of Beau Geste Miss Wormwood
1977-04-28 Come Play with Me Lady Bovington
1977-04-04 Stand up, Virgin Soldiers Mrs. Phillimore
1977-03-04 Adventures of a Private Eye Miss Friggin
1976-09-01 Confessions of a Driving Instructor Miss Slenderparts
1976-01-01 Room to Let Lady on crossing
1972-01-01 For the Love of Ada Ada Bingley
1970-10-29 The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes Mrs. Hudson
1970-06-17 On a Clear Day You Can See Forever Winnie Wainwhisle
1970-06-16 Doctor in Trouble Mrs Dailey
1969-06-02 The Italian Job Miss Peach
1968-05-17 Wonderwall Mrs. Peurofoy
1968-01-01 Lionheart Lil
1967-12-20 Smashing Time Mrs Gimble
1967-01-01 The Mini-Affair Cook
1966-06-19 The Wrong Box Mrs. Hackett
1966-04-03 Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment Mrs. Delt
1965-08-03 You Must Be Joking Elderly Woman
1964-11-15 The Importance of Being Earnest
1963-05-20 Heavens Above! Rene Smith
1963-02-01 Just for Fun Housewife
1961-10-10 Nothing Barred Elsie
1961-08-14 Watch It, Sailor! Edie Hornett
1961-05-06 Double Bunk Mrs. Harper
1961-04-10 A Weekend with Lulu Florence Bell
1961-03-07 The Rebel Mrs. Crevatte
1960-12-22 The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's Miss Harker-Parker
1960-12-20 Two Way Stretch Mrs. Price
1960-11-03 The Night We Got the Bird Ma
1960-11-01 No Kidding Mrs. Spicer
1960-08-25 A French Mistress Staff Sergeant Hodges
1960-08-09 Make Mine Mink Madame Spolinski
1960-07-12 Doctor in Love Professor MacRitchie
1960-03-24 School for Scoundrels Mrs. Stringer
1960-02-22 Carry On Constable Distraught Mother
1960-01-31 Inn for Trouble Lily
1959-11-02 Upstairs and Downstairs Large Woman
1959-10-10 The Night We Dropped a Clanger Mrs Billingsgate
1959-08-18 I'm All Right Jack Mrs. Kite
1959-06-23 Left Right and Centre Mrs. Maggs
1959-06-01 The Crowning Touch Bebe
1959-03-10 Carlton-Browne of the F.O. Mrs. Carter
1959-01-30 Carry On Nurse Mrs Hickson
1959-01-05 Desert Mice Miss Patch
1958-08-04 Next to No Time Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
1958-06-09 Law and Disorder Woman in Train
1958-05-28 The Key Clerk
1958-03-04 Happy Is the Bride Madame Edna
1957-10-14 Small Hotel Mrs. Gammon
1957-03-04 Brothers in Law Mrs. Potter
1956-10-02 The Silken Affair Receptionist
1956-05-07 It's Never Too Late Neighbour
1956-03-20 Who Done It? Customer (uncredited)
1955-08-15 A Kid for Two Farthings Mrs. Abramowitz
1954-11-16 Mad About Men Mme. Blanche
1954-09-28 The Belles of St. Trinian's Miss Gale
1954-07-05 Burnt Evidence Mrs. Raymond
1954-02-02 The Weak and the Wicked Waitress
1953-11-30 The Wedding of Lilli Marlene Rosie
1953-11-30 Meet Mr. Lucifer Lady with the Dog
1952-11-10 Top Secret Mrs. Tidmarsh
1952-06-01 Treasure Hunt Nanny
1951-05-16 One Wild Oat Emily Pepys
1950-02-23 Stage Fright Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
1949-10-30 Dark Secret 'Woody' Woodman
1949-05-31 Adam and Evelyne Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
1949-05-23 The Perfect Woman Mrs. Butters
1949-04-21 For Them That Trespass Inn Proprietress
1949-03-31 Cardboard Cavalier Lady Agnes
1949-02-01 Silent Dust Cook
1948-10-13 Woman Hater Mrs. Fletcher
1947-09-01 The Hills of Donegal Mrs. Mactavish
1947-03-10 The Shop at Sly Corner Ruby Towser
1947-02-27 Temptation Harbour Ethel Gowshall
1946-06-17 I'll Turn to You Mrs. Gammon
1945-11-24 Brief Encounter The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
1945-07-09 Great Day Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
1945-05-28 For You Alone Miss Trotter
1945-01-28 Kiss the Bride Goodbye Mrs. Victory
1944-11-06 Medal for the General Mrs. Farnsworth
1944-08-02 Mr. Emmanuel Trude
1944-07-31 Give Us the Moon Miss Haddock
1944-07-28 English Without Tears (uncredited)
1944-02-07 It's in the Bag Mrs. Beam
1943-10-11 Rhythm Serenade
1943-09-06 The Flemish Farm Frau
1943-08-16 I'll Walk Beside You Ma Perkins
1943-06-01 Millions Like Us Landlady
1943-05-17 Get Cracking Maggie Turner
1942-08-24 Uncensored Frau Von Koerner
1942-06-02 Partners in Crime Mrs. Wilson
1941-12-30 Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light Councillor
1941-07-28 'Pimpernel' Smith Bit Part
1941-05-10 The Spell of Amy Nugent Mrs. Nugent
1941-02-01 Gasbags Burgomaster's wife
1940-11-30 George and Margaret Beer
1940-08-31 Night Train to Munich Stationmaster (uncredited)
1940-08-28 Girl in the News Gertrude Mary Blaker
1940-04-13 Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard Miss Bell
1939-10-26 On the Night of the Fire Neighbour
1938-05-02 The Terror Kitchen Maid
1938-05-01 Strange Boarders Mrs. Dewar