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