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Athene Seyler

Athene Seyler

Acting

Born: May 31, 1889Hackney, London, England, UK

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.

Known For
Filmography

Don't Utter a Note

Nellie Pringle

1966

The Invasion

Lady Corm

1963
Nurse on Wheels

Nurse on Wheels

Miss Farthingale

1963
I Thank a Fool

I Thank a Fool

Aunt Heather Chandler

1962
The Girl on the Boat

The Girl on the Boat

Mrs Adelaide Hignett

1962
Two and Two Make Six

Two and Two Make Six

Aunt Phoebe Tonks

1962
Satan Never Sleeps

Satan Never Sleeps

Sister Agness

1962
Francis of Assisi

Francis of Assisi

Aunt Buona

1961
Visa to Canton

Visa to Canton

Mao Tai Tai

1960
A French Mistress

A French Mistress

Beatrice Peake

1960
Make Mine Mink

Make Mine Mink

Dame Beatrice Appleby

1960

A Woman of No Importance

Lady Hunstanton

1960
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

Jeannie Lawson

1958
Happy Is the Bride

Happy Is the Bride

Aunt Harriet

1958
A Tale of Two Cities

A Tale of Two Cities

Miss Pross

1958
Night of the Demon

Night of the Demon

Mrs. Karswell

1957
Campbell's Kingdom

Campbell's Kingdom

Miss Abigail

1957
How to Murder a Rich Uncle

How to Murder a Rich Uncle

Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)

1957
Doctor at Large

Doctor at Large

Lady Hawkins

1957
Yield to the Night

Yield to the Night

Miss Bligh

1956
As Long as They're Happy

As Long as They're Happy

Mrs. Arbuthnot

1955
For Better, for Worse

For Better, for Worse

Miss Mainbrace

1954
The Weak and the Wicked

The Weak and the Wicked

Millie Williams

1954
The Beggar's Opera

The Beggar's Opera

Mrs. Trapes

1953
The Pickwick Papers

The Pickwick Papers

Miss Witherfield

1952
Made in Heaven

Made in Heaven

Miss Honeycroft

1952
Treasure Hunt

Treasure Hunt

Consuelo Howard

1952
Secret People

Secret People

Mrs. Reginald Kellick

1952
Young Wives' Tale

Young Wives' Tale

Nanny Gallop

1951
The Franchise Affair

The Franchise Affair

Aunt Lin

1951
The Queen of Spades

The Queen of Spades

Princess Ivashin

1949
The First Gentleman

The First Gentleman

Miss Knight

1948
Jassy

Jassy

1947
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Miss La Creevy

1947

Dear Octopus

Aunt Belle

1943
Letter from Home

Letter from Home

Mrs Ashford

1941
Quiet Wedding

Quiet Wedding

Aunt Mary

1941
Young Man's Fancy

Young Man's Fancy

Milliner

1939
The Saint in London

The Saint in London

Mother Buckley

1939
The Ware Case

The Ware Case

Mrs Pinto

1938
The Citadel

The Citadel

Lady Raebank

1938
Jane Steps Out

Jane Steps Out

Grandma

1938
Sailing Along

Sailing Along

Victoria Gulliver

1938
Non-Stop New York

Non-Stop New York

Aunt Veronica

1937
The Lilac Domino

The Lilac Domino

Madame Alary

1937
The Mill on the Floss

The Mill on the Floss

Mrs. Pullet

1937

The Sky’s the Limit

Miss Prinny

1937
Irish for Luck

Irish for Luck

The Duchess

1936
Sensation

Sensation

Madame Henry

1936
Southern Roses

Southern Roses

Mrs. Rowland

1936
It's Love Again

It's Love Again

Mrs. Durland

1936
Scrooge

Scrooge

Scrooge's Charwoman

1935
Drake of England

Drake of England

Queen Elizabeth

1935
Moscow Nights

Moscow Nights

Madame Anna Sabine

1934
Blossom Time

Blossom Time

Archduchess Maria Victoria

1934
The Private Life of Don Juan

The Private Life of Don Juan

Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment

1934

Early to Bed

Frau Waiser

1933
Tell Me Tonight

Tell Me Tonight

Mrs. Pategg

1932
The Perfect Lady

The Perfect Lady

Lady Westhaven

1931

The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick

Rachel Wardle

1921