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

• Never Say Die
• 1986Absolute Beginners — Mrs Larkin
• 1986Hotel du Lac — Madame de Bonneuil
• In Sickness and in Health — Gwenneth
• Mapp & Lucia — Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield
• Super Gran — Clinging Ivey
• Theatre Night — Nurse
• Dramarama — Maureen
• 1982It's Your Move — Grand Old Lady
• Legacy of Murder — Cousin Looby
• 1981Riding High — Gran
• 1981The Best of the Adventures — Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
• Metal Mickey — Granny
• 1980The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle — Cinema Usherette
• The Cannon & Ball Show — Irene The Neigbour
• 1978The Hound of the Baskervilles — Mrs. Barrymore
• 1978The Light Princess — Nanny
• 1977Adventures of a Private Eye — Miss Friggin
• 1977Come Play with Me — Lady Bovington
• 1977Stand up, Virgin Soldiers — Mrs. Phillimore
• 1977The Last Remake of Beau Geste — Miss Wormwood
• 1976Confessions of a Driving Instructor — Miss Slenderparts
• Maggie and Her — Mrs. Perry
• 1976Room to Let — Lady on Crossing
• The Fosters — Mrs Draper
• 1972For the Love of Ada — Ada Bingley
• Ben Travers Farces — Mrs. Bugle
• 1970Doctor in Trouble — Mrs. Dailey
• For the Love of Ada — Ada Cresswell
• 1970On a Clear Day You Can See Forever — Winnie Wainwhisle
• 1970The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes — Mrs. Hudson
• 1969The Italian Job — Miss Peach
• 1969Wonderwall — Mrs. Peurofoy
• World in Ferment — Madame Astoria
• 1968Lionheart — Lil
• Mum's Boys
• Misleading Cases — Mrs Philby-Potter
• 1967Smashing Time — Mrs Gimble
• 1967The Mini-Affair — Cook
• 1966Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment — Mrs. Delt
• 1966The Wrong Box — Mrs. Hackett
• 1965You Must Be Joking — Elderly Woman
• 1964The Importance of Being Earnest
• Theatre 625 — Agnes Oaks
• 1963Heavens Above! — Rene Smith
• 1963Just for Fun — Housewife
• 1961A Weekend with Lulu — Florence Bell
• 1961Double Bunk — Mrs. Harper
• 1961Nothing Barred — Elsie
• Stryker of the Yard
• 1961The Rebel — Mrs. Crevatte
• 1961Watch It, Sailor! — Edie Hornett
• 1960A French Mistress — Staff Sergeant Hodges
• 1960Carry On Constable — Willie's Mother
• 1960Doctor in Love — Professor MacRitchie
• 1960Inn for Trouble — Lily
• 1960Make Mine Mink — Madame Spolinski
• 1960No Kidding — Mrs. Spicer
• 1960School for Scoundrels — Mrs Stringer
• 1960The Night We Got the Bird — Ma
• 1960The Pure Hell of St Trinian's — Miss Harker-Parker
• 1960Two-Way Stretch — Mrs. Price
• 1959Carlton-Browne of the F.O. — Mrs. Carter
• 1959Carry On Nurse — Marge Hickson
• 1959Desert Mice — Miss Maud Patch
• 1959I'm All Right Jack — Mrs. Kite
• 1959Left Right and Centre — Mrs. Maggs
• 1959The Crowning Touch — Bebe
• 1959The Night We Dropped a Clanger — Mrs Billingsgate
• 1959Upstairs and Downstairs — Large Woman
• Educating Archie — Mrs. Twissle
• 1958Happy Is the Bride — Madame Edna
• 1958Law and Disorder — Woman in Train
• 1958Next to No Time — Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
• 1958The Key — Clerk
• 1957Brothers in Law — Mrs. Potter
• 1957Small Hotel — Mrs. Gammon
• Armchair Theatre — Mrs. Micawber
• Hancock's Half Hour
• 1956It's Never Too Late — Neighbour
• 1956The Silken Affair — Receptionist
• 1956Who Done It? — Customer (uncredited)
• 1955A Kid for Two Farthings — Mrs. Abramowitz
• Strange Experiences — Women
• The Adventures of Robin Hood — Polly
• 1954Burnt Evidence — Mrs. Raymond
• 1954Mad About Men — Mme. Blanche
• 1954The Belles of St Trinian's — Miss Gale
• 1954The Weak and the Wicked — Waitress
• 1953Meet Mr. Lucifer — Lady with the Dog
• 1953The Wedding of Lilli Marlene — Rosie
• 1952Top Secret — Mrs. Tidmarsh
• 1952Treasure Hunt — Nanny
• 1951One Wild Oat — Emily Pepys
• 1951Young Wives' Tale — Nanny (uncredited)
• 1950Stage Fright — Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
• 1949Adam and Evelyne — Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
• 1949Cardboard Cavalier — Lady Agnes
• 1949Dark Secret — 'Woody' Woodman
• 1949For Them That Trespass — Inn Proprietress
• 1949Silent Dust — Cook
• 1949The Perfect Woman — Mrs. Butters
• 1948Woman Hater — Mrs. Fletcher
• 1947Temptation Harbour — Ethel Gowshall
• 1947The Hills of Donegal — Mrs. Mactavish
• 1947The Shop at Sly Corner — Ruby Towser
• 1946I'll Turn to You — Mrs. Gammon
• 1945Brief Encounter — The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
• 1945For You Alone — Miss Trotter
• 1945Great Day — Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
• 1945Kiss the Bride Goodbye — Mrs. Victory
• 1944English Without Tears — (uncredited)
• 1944Give Us the Moon — Miss Haddock
• 1944It's in the Bag — Mrs. Beam
• 1944Medal for the General — Mrs. Farnsworth
• 1944Mr. Emmanuel — Trude
• 1943Get Cracking — Maggie Turner
• 1943I'll Walk Beside You — Ma Perkins
• 1943Millions Like Us — Landlady
• 1943Rhythm Serenade
• 1943The Flemish Farm — Frau
• 1942Partners in Crime — Mrs. Wilson
• 1942Uncensored — Frau Von Koerner
• 1941"Pimpernel" Smith — Bit Part
• 1941Gasbags — Burgomaster's wife
• 1941Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light — Councillor
• 1941The Spell of Amy Nugent — Mrs. Nugent
• 1940George and Margaret — Beer
• 1940Girl in the News — Gertrude Mary Blaker
• 1940Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard — Miss Bell
• 1940Night Train to Munich — Stationmaster (uncredited)
• 1939On the Night of the Fire — Neighbour
• 1938Strange Boarders — Mrs. Dewar
• 1938The Terror — Kitchen Maid

Appearances as themselves (2)

• The Kenny Everett Television Show — Self
• 1969Look at Life: Saturday Special — Self