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.
as Mrs Larkin
as Madame de Bonneuil
as Annie Freeman(1 ep)
as Nurse(1 ep)
as Gwenneth(2 eps)
as Poppy, Duchess of Sheffield(1 ep)
as Clinging Ivey(1 ep)
as Maureen(1 ep)
as Grand Old Lady
as Self(1 ep)
as Cousin Looby(1 ep)
as Gran
as Miss Friggin (archive footage) (uncredited)
as Cinema Usherette
as Granny(38 eps)
as Irene The Neigbour(1 ep)
as Nanny
as Mrs. Barrymore
as Miss Wormwood
as Lady Bovington
as Mrs. Phillimore
as Miss Friggin
as Miss Slenderparts
as Mrs Perry(14 eps)
as Mrs Draper(1 ep)
as Lady on Crossing
as Grandmama Merz(5 eps)
as Ada Bingley
as Mrs. Hudson
as Mrs. Bugle(7 eps)
as Winnie Wainwhisle
as Mrs. Dailey
as Ada Cresswell(27 eps)
as Madame Astoria(6 eps)
as Miss Peach
as Mrs. Peurofoy
as Lil
as Mrs Gimble
as Mrs Philby-Potter(1 ep)
as Cook
as Mrs. Hackett
as Mrs. Delt
as Elderly Woman
as Agnes Oaks(1 ep)
as Rene Smith
as Housewife
as Elsie
as Edie Hornett
as Mrs. Harper
as Florence Bell
as Mrs. Crevatte
as Miss Harker-Parker
as Mrs. Price
as Mrs. Spicer
as Staff Sergeant Hodges
as Madame Spolinski
as Professor MacRitchie
as Mrs Stringer
as Willie's Mother
as Lily
as Large Woman
as Mrs Billingsgate
as Mrs. Kite
as Mrs. Maggs
as Bebe
as Mrs. Carter
as Marge Hickson
as Miss Maud Patch
as Mrs. Twissle(14 eps)
as Mrs. Crowley, Greengrocer
as Woman in Train
as Clerk
as Madame Edna
as Mrs. Gammon
as Mrs. Potter
as Receptionist
as Mrs. Micawber(1 ep)
as Neighbour
as Customer (uncredited)
as Polly(1 ep)
as Women(1 ep)
as Mrs. Abramowitz
as Mme. Blanche
as Miss Gale
as Mrs. Raymond
as Waitress
as Rosie
as Lady with the Dog
as Mrs. Tidmarsh
as Nanny
as Nanny (uncredited)
as Emily Pepys
as Mrs. Mason (uncredited)
as 'Woody' Woodman
as Mrs. Crouch, Manageress (uncredited)
as Mrs. Butters
as Inn Proprietress
as Lady Agnes
as Cook
as Mrs. Fletcher
as Mrs. Mactavish
as Ruby Towser
as Ethel Gowshall
as Mrs. Gammon
as The Cellist and Organist (uncredited)
as Lady serving Tea in Tea Stall.
as Miss Trotter
as Mrs. Victory
as Mrs. Farnsworth
as Trude
as Miss Haddock
as (uncredited)
as Mrs. Beam
as Frau
as Ma Perkins
as Landlady
as Maggie Turner
as Frau Von Koerner
as Mrs. Wilson
as Councillor
as Bit Part
as Mrs. Nugent
as Burgomaster's wife
as Beer
as Stationmaster (uncredited)
as Gertrude Mary Blaker
as Miss Bell
as Neighbour
as Kitchen Maid
as Mrs. Dewar
