8.2
8.2
It's Your Move
1982
as Grand Old Lady
Irene Handl
Acting
Born:December 27, 1901
Died:November 29, 1987(aged 85)
Birthplace:Maida Vale, London, England, UK
N/A
CommunityBiography
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.
Filmography (101 movies)
8.0
8.0
Next to No Time
1958
as Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
7.8
7.8
The Rebel
1961
as Mrs. Crevatte
7.7
7.7
Brief Encounter
1945
as The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
7.3
7.3
Silent Dust
1949
as Cook
7.3
7.3
For the Love of Ada
1972
as Ada Bingley
7.3
7.3
Great Day
1945
as Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
7.1
7.1
Brothers in Law
1957
as Mrs. Potter
7.1
7.1
Make Mine Mink
1960
as Madame Spolinski
7.0
7.0
The Light Princess
1978
as Nanny
7.0
7.0
Woman Hater
1948
as Mrs. Fletcher
7.0
7.0
The Italian Job
1969
as Miss Peach
6.9
6.9
School for Scoundrels
1960
as Mrs. Stringer
6.8
6.8
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
1970
as Mrs. Hudson
6.8
6.8
Mr. Emmanuel
1944
as Trude
6.7
6.7
Two-Way Stretch
1960
as Mrs. Price
6.7
6.7
On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
1970
as Winnie Wainwhisle
6.6
6.6
A Kid for Two Farthings
1955
as Mrs. Abramowitz
6.6
6.6
I'm All Right Jack
1959
as Mrs. Kite
6.6
6.6
Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
1940
as Miss Bell
6.5
6.5
Small Hotel
1957
as Mrs. Gammon
6.5
6.5
Get Cracking
1943
as Maggie Turner
6.5
6.5
Watch It, Sailor!
1961
as Edie Hornett
6.5
6.5
Nothing Barred
1961
as Elsie
6.5
6.5
Medal for the General
1944
as Mrs. Farnsworth
6.5
6.5
Inn for Trouble
1960
as Lily
6.5
6.5
Rhythm Serenade
1943
6.5
6.5
The Wrong Box
1966
as Mrs. Hackett
6.4
6.4
Girl in the News
1940
as Gertrude Mary Blaker
6.4
6.4
The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
1960
as Miss Harker-Parker
6.3
6.3
The Belles of St. Trinian's
1954
as Miss Gale
6.3
6.3
The Terror
1938
as Kitchen Maid
6.3
6.3
Heavens Above!
1963
as Rene Smith
6.3
6.3
The Shop at Sly Corner
1947
as Ruby Towser
6.3
6.3
Carry On Constable
1960
as Willie's Mother
6.2
6.2
The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
1980
as Cinema Usherette
6.2
6.2
Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
1966
as Mrs. Delt
6.2
6.2
Law and Disorder
1958
as Woman in Train
6.2
6.2
Give Us the Moon
1944
as Miss Haddock
6.2
6.2
Mad About Men
1954
as Mme. Blanche
6.2
6.2
Smashing Time
1967
as Mrs Gimble
6.2
6.2
Happy Is the Bride
1958
as Madame Edna
6.0
6.0
Lionheart
1968
as Lil
6.0
6.0
The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
1953
as Rosie
6.0
6.0
It's Never Too Late
1956
as Neighbour
6.0
6.0
The Key
1958
as Clerk
6.0
6.0
Top Secret
1952
as Mrs. Tidmarsh
6.0
6.0
Desert Mice
1959
as Miss Patch
6.0
6.0
The Perfect Woman
1949
as Mrs. Butters
5.9
5.9
Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
1959
as Mrs. Carter
5.7
5.7
A French Mistress
1960
as Staff Sergeant Hodges
5.7
5.7
Double Bunk
1961
as Mrs. Harper
5.7
5.7
Cardboard Cavalier
1949
as Lady Agnes
5.6
5.6
The Flemish Farm
1943
as Frau
5.6
5.6
No Kidding
1960
as Mrs. Spicer
5.5
5.5
The Last Remake of Beau Geste
1977
as Miss Wormwood
5.5
5.5
Gasbags
1941
as Burgomaster's wife
5.5
5.5
Burnt Evidence
1954
as Mrs. Raymond
5.5
5.5
Millions Like Us
1943
as Landlady
5.4
5.4
A Weekend with Lulu
1961
as Florence Bell
5.4
5.4
Treasure Hunt
1952
as Nanny
5.3
5.3
Young Wives' Tale
1951
as Nanny (uncredited)
5.2
5.2
On the Night of the Fire
1939
as Neighbour
5.2
5.2
Doctor in Love
1960
as Professor MacRitchie
5.2
5.2
The Night We Dropped a Clanger
1959
as Mrs Billingsgate
5.2
5.2
It's in the Bag
1944
as Mrs. Beam
5.1
5.1
Meet Mr. Lucifer
1953
as Lady with the Dog
5.1
5.1
You Must Be Joking
1965
as Elderly Woman
5.1
5.1
Temptation Harbour
1947
as Ethel Gowshall
5.1
5.1
Kiss the Bride Goodbye
1945
as Mrs. Victory
5.1
5.1
Who Done It?
1956
as Customer (uncredited)
5.0
5.0
Wonderwall
1968
as Mrs. Peurofoy
5.0
5.0
For Them That Trespass
1949
as Inn Proprietress
5.0
5.0
The Spell of Amy Nugent
1941
as Mrs. Nugent
5.0
5.0
I'll Turn to You
1946
as Mrs. Gammon
5.0
5.0
I'll Walk Beside You
1943
as Ma Perkins
4.6
4.6
Doctor in Trouble
1970
as Mrs Dailey
4.6
4.6
Come Play with Me
1977
as Lady Bovington
4.5
4.5
The Night We Got the Bird
1960
as Ma
4.5
4.5
The Hills of Donegal
1947
as Mrs. Mactavish
4.5
4.5
One Wild Oat
1951
as Emily Pepys
4.3
4.3
Confessions of a Driving Instructor
1976
as Miss Slenderparts
4.2
4.2
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1978
as Mrs. Barrymore
4.2
4.2
Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
1977
as Mrs. Phillimore
4.0
4.0
Riding High
1981
as Gran
4.0
4.0
Adventures of a Private Eye
1977
as Miss Friggin
3.7
3.7
Just for Fun
1963
as Housewife
3.0
3.0
Hotel du Lac
1986
as Madame de Bonneuil
1.0
1.0
The Silken Affair
1956
as Receptionist
Look at Life: Saturday Special
1969
as Self
George and Margaret
1940
as Beer
Strange Boarders
1938
as Mrs. Dewar
Room to Let
1976
as Lady on crossing
Dark Secret
1949
as 'Woody' Woodman
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
1941
as Councillor
The Importance of Being Earnest
1964
The Crowning Touch
1959
as Bebe
Uncensored
1942
as Frau Von Koerner
Partners in Crime
1942
as Mrs. Wilson
The Mini-Affair
1967
as Cook
For You Alone
1945
as Miss Trotter
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