Irene Handl

Acting · 0.9 popularity

Age

124

Movies

112

Born: December 27, 1901 – November 29, 1987
From: Maida Vale, London, England, UK

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.

Works

112 films

The Italian Job

19696.9

Brief Encounter

19457.7

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

19706.8

Stage Fright

19506.8

Carry On Nurse

19596.4

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

19706.7

Come Play with Me

19774.7

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

19775.7

The Key

19586.1

I'm All Right Jack

19596.6

The Wrong Box

19666.4

Wonderwall

19695.2

The Belles of St Trinian's

19546.4

Absolute Beginners

19865.5

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

19806.4

Two-Way Stretch

19606.8

"Pimpernel" Smith

19417.0

Carry On Constable

19606.3

Adventures of a Private Eye

19774.3

Night Train to Munich

19407.3

Confessions of a Driving Instructor

19764.7

School for Scoundrels

19607.0

Heavens Above!

19636.6

A Kid for Two Farthings

19556.7

Happy Is the Bride

19587.0

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment

19666.3

Who Done It?

19565.5

The Rebel

19617.8

Brothers in Law

19577.1

Girl in the News

19406.5

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

19596.2

The Hound of the Baskervilles

19784.4

The Light Princess

19787.0

Adam and Evelyne

19497.0

The Shop at Sly Corner

19476.6

The Silken Affair

19563.3

Left Right and Centre

19596.1

The Pure Hell of St Trinian's

19606.5

Desert Mice

19596.2

You Must Be Joking

19655.4

Mad About Men

19546.5

No Kidding

19606.1

The Best of the Adventures

19816.3

Upstairs and Downstairs

19595.8

For Them That Trespass

19495.3

Doctor in Love

19605.5

The Night We Dropped a Clanger

19595.8

Young Wives' Tale

19515.3

A French Mistress

19606.3

Millions Like Us

19435.6

Doctor in Trouble

19705.0

The Perfect Woman

19496.4

It's Your Move

19827.9

Make Mine Mink

19606.9

Temptation Harbour

19475.4

Strange Boarders

19388.0

Treasure Hunt

19525.7

Woman Hater

19487.7

Watch It, Sailor!

19617.0

Law and Disorder

19586.4

The Weak and the Wicked

19546.5

The Flemish Farm

19435.9

Top Secret

19528.0

Just for Fun

19635.3

Great Day

19457.4

Meet Mr. Lucifer

19535.2

Medal for the General

19447.7

One Wild Oat

19515.2

For the Love of Ada

19727.3

Double Bunk

19616.1

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers

19774.6

On the Night of the Fire

19395.4

The Importance of Being Earnest

1964

Inn for Trouble

19606.9

Kiss the Bride Goodbye

19455.4

I'll Turn to You

19466.0

Riding High

19815.1

The Mini-Affair

19679.0

Small Hotel

19577.0

The Night We Got the Bird

19606.3

The Crowning Touch

19598.0

English Without Tears

19446.3

Burnt Evidence

19546.0

Dark Secret

19498.0

Silent Dust

19497.4

Hotel du Lac

19864.3

Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light

19419.0

Cardboard Cavalier

19496.0

It's Never Too Late

19567.3

Gasbags

19416.1

Mr. Emmanuel

19447.5

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene

19537.0

Smashing Time

19676.3

Nothing Barred

19617.0

The Terror

19386.5

For You Alone

19457.0

A Weekend with Lulu

19615.5

Rhythm Serenade

19437.7

Next to No Time

19587.7

Get Cracking

19436.3

The Hills of Donegal

19474.5

Lionheart

19686.5

Uncensored

19429.0

The Spell of Amy Nugent

19416.0

I'll Walk Beside You

19436.0

Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard

19406.9

Room to Let

1976

Partners in Crime

194210.0

George and Margaret

19407.0

It's in the Bag

19445.7

Look at Life: Saturday Special

1969

Give Us the Moon

19446.9