Irene Handl
Born
December 27, 1901
Died
November 29, 1987 (85 years old)
Known For
Acting
Place of Birth
Maida Vale, London, England, UK
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.
Known For
Never Say Die
(6 episodes)
1987

Absolute Beginners
Mrs Larkin
1986

Hotel du Lac
Madame de Bonneuil
1986
Theatre Night
Nurse · (1 episode)
1985

Super Gran
Clinging Ivey · (1 episode)
1985

It's Your Move
Grand Old Lady
1982

The Kenny Everett Television Show
Self · (1 episode)
1982
Legacy of Murder
Cousin Looby · (1 episode)
1982

Riding High
Gran
1981

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle
Cinema Usherette
1980

Metal Mickey
Granny · (38 episodes)
1980

The Cannon & Ball Show
Irene The Neigbour · (1 episode)
1979

The Light Princess
Nanny
1978

The Hound of the Baskervilles
Mrs. Barrymore
1978

The Last Remake of Beau Geste
Miss Wormwood
1977

Come Play with Me
Lady Bovington
1977

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers
Mrs. Phillimore
1977

Adventures of a Private Eye
Miss Friggin
1977

Confessions of a Driving Instructor
Miss Slenderparts
1976
Maggie and Her
Mrs. Perry · (14 episodes)
1976
Room to Let
Lady on crossing
1976

For the Love of Ada
Ada Bingley
1972

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes
Mrs. Hudson
1970

Ben Travers Farces
Mrs. Bugle · (7 episodes)
1970

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever
Winnie Wainwhisle
1970

Doctor in Trouble
Mrs Dailey
1970

For the Love of Ada
(27 episodes)
1970
World in Ferment
Madame Astoria · (6 episodes)
1969

The Italian Job
Miss Peach
1969

Look at Life: Saturday Special
Self
1969

Wonderwall
Mrs. Peurofoy
1968
Mum's Boys
(7 episodes)
1968

Lionheart
Lil
1968

Smashing Time
Mrs Gimble
1967

The Mini-Affair
Cook
1967

The Wrong Box
Mrs. Hackett
1966

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment
Mrs. Delt
1966

You Must Be Joking
Elderly Woman
1965
The Importance of Being Earnest
1964

Heavens Above!
Rene Smith
1963

Just for Fun
Housewife
1963
Stryker of the Yard
(2 episodes)
1961

Nothing Barred
Elsie
1961

Watch It, Sailor!
Edie Hornett
1961

Double Bunk
Mrs. Harper
1961

A Weekend with Lulu
Florence Bell
1961

The Rebel
Mrs. Crevatte
1961

The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's
Miss Harker-Parker
1960

Two-Way Stretch
Mrs. Price
1960

The Night We Got the Bird
Ma
1960

No Kidding
Mrs. Spicer
1960

A French Mistress
Staff Sergeant Hodges
1960

Make Mine Mink
Madame Spolinski
1960

Doctor in Love
Professor MacRitchie
1960

School for Scoundrels
Mrs. Stringer
1960

Carry On Constable
Distraught Mother
1960

Inn for Trouble
Lily
1960

Upstairs and Downstairs
Large Woman
1959

The Night We Dropped a Clanger
Mrs Billingsgate
1959

I'm All Right Jack
Mrs. Kite
1959

Left Right and Centre
Mrs. Maggs
1959
The Crowning Touch
Bebe
1959

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.
Mrs. Carter
1959

Carry On Nurse
Mrs Hickson
1959

Desert Mice
Miss Patch
1959
Educating Archie
Mrs. Twissle · (14 episodes)
1958

Next to No Time
Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
1958

Law and Disorder
Woman in Train
1958

The Key
Clerk
1958

Happy Is the Bride
Madame Edna
1958

Small Hotel
Mrs. Gammon
1957

Brothers in Law
Mrs. Potter
1957

The Silken Affair
Receptionist
1956

Hancock's Half Hour
(3 episodes)
1956

It's Never Too Late
Neighbour
1956

Who Done It?
Customer (uncredited)
1956

The Adventures of Robin Hood
Polly · (1 episode)
1955

A Kid for Two Farthings
Mrs. Abramowitz
1955

Mad About Men
Mme. Blanche
1954

The Belles of St. Trinian's
Miss Gale
1954

Burnt Evidence
Mrs. Raymond
1954

The Weak and the Wicked
Waitress
1954

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene
Rosie
1953

Meet Mr. Lucifer
Lady with the Dog
1953

Top Secret
Mrs. Tidmarsh
1952

Treasure Hunt
Nanny
1952

One Wild Oat
Emily Pepys
1951

Stage Fright
Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
1950

Dark Secret
'Woody' Woodman
1949

Adam and Evelyne
Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
1949

The Perfect Woman
Mrs. Butters
1949

For Them That Trespass
Inn Proprietress
1949

Cardboard Cavalier
Lady Agnes
1949

Silent Dust
Cook
1949

Woman Hater
Mrs. Fletcher
1948

The Hills of Donegal
Mrs. Mactavish
1947

The Shop at Sly Corner
Ruby Towser
1947

Temptation Harbour
Ethel Gowshall
1947
I'll Turn to You
Mrs. Gammon
1946

Brief Encounter
The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
1945

Great Day
Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
1945

For You Alone
Miss Trotter
1945

Kiss the Bride Goodbye
Mrs. Victory
1945

Medal for the General
Mrs. Farnsworth
1944

Mr. Emmanuel
Trude
1944

Give Us the Moon
Miss Haddock
1944

English Without Tears
(uncredited)
1944
It's in the Bag
Mrs. Beam
1944

Rhythm Serenade
1943

The Flemish Farm
Frau
1943

I'll Walk Beside You
Ma Perkins
1943

Millions Like Us
Landlady
1943

Get Cracking
Maggie Turner
1943

Uncensored
Frau Von Koerner
1942

Partners in Crime
Mrs. Wilson
1942
Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light
Councillor
1941

'Pimpernel' Smith
Bit Part
1941

The Spell of Amy Nugent
Mrs. Nugent
1941

Gasbags
Burgomaster's wife
1941

George and Margaret
Beer
1940

Night Train to Munich
Stationmaster (uncredited)
1940

Girl in the News
Gertrude Mary Blaker
1940

Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard
Miss Bell
1940

On the Night of the Fire
Neighbour
1939

The Terror
Kitchen Maid
1938

Strange Boarders
Mrs. Dewar
1938