person

Irene Handl

Personal Info

Known For

Acting

Gender

Female

Birthday

1901-12-27

Place of Birth

Maida Vale, London, England, UK

Irene Handl

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.

Also Known For

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70

The Italian Job

Jun 02, 1969

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62

The Pure Hell of St. Trinian's

Dec 22, 1960

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63

Carry On Constable

Feb 22, 1960

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67

I'm All Right Jack

Aug 18, 1959

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59

Carlton-Browne of the F.O.

Mar 10, 1959

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69

School for Scoundrels

Mar 24, 1960

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62

Morgan: A Suitable Case for Treatment

Apr 03, 1966

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68

On a Clear Day You Can See Forever

Jun 17, 1970

poster

63

The Great Rock 'n' Roll Swindle

Sep 11, 1980

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52

Wonderwall

May 17, 1968

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68

Stage Fright

Feb 23, 1950

poster

NA

The Mini-Affair

Jan 01, 1967

poster

56

No Kidding

Nov 01, 1960

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NA

Uncensored

Aug 24, 1942

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82

It's Your Move

Oct 18, 1982

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47

Come Play with Me

Apr 28, 1977

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48

Stand up, Virgin Soldiers

Apr 04, 1977

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60

The Perfect Woman

May 23, 1949

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53

A Weekend with Lulu

Apr 10, 1961

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60

Top Secret

Nov 10, 1952

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73

Silent Dust

Feb 01, 1949

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NA

For You Alone

May 28, 1945

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45

The Night We Got the Bird

Nov 03, 1960

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68

Mr. Emmanuel

Aug 02, 1944

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65

Watch It, Sailor!

Aug 14, 1961

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62

Give Us the Moon

Jul 31, 1944

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57

Cardboard Cavalier

Mar 31, 1949

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63

Heavens Above!

May 20, 1963

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62

The Shop at Sly Corner

Mar 10, 1947

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73

For the Love of Ada

Jan 01, 1972

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41

Adventures of a Private Eye

Mar 04, 1977

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62

Happy Is the Bride

Mar 04, 1958

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51

You Must Be Joking

Aug 03, 1965

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NA

The Importance of Being Earnest

Nov 15, 1964

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50

I'll Turn to You

Jun 17, 1946

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65

A Kid for Two Farthings

Aug 15, 1955

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67

Two-Way Stretch

Dec 20, 1960

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60

Left Right and Centre

Jun 23, 1959

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51

Temptation Harbour

Feb 27, 1947

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51

Kiss the Bride Goodbye

Jan 28, 1945

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52

On the Night of the Fire

Oct 26, 1939

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NA

George and Margaret

Nov 30, 1940

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NA

Strange Boarders

May 01, 1938

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55

The Flemish Farm

Sep 06, 1943

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71

Make Mine Mink

Aug 09, 1960

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60

Desert Mice

Jan 05, 1959

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52

For Them That Trespass

Apr 21, 1949

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57

Double Bunk

May 06, 1961

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65

Nothing Barred

Oct 10, 1961

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65

Inn for Trouble

Jan 31, 1960

poster

64

Girl in the News

Aug 28, 1940

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65

Small Hotel

Oct 14, 1957

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80

Next to No Time

Aug 04, 1958

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62

Law and Disorder

Jun 09, 1958

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66

Mrs Pym of Scotland Yard

Apr 13, 1940

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52

Doctor in Love

Jul 12, 1960

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65

Rhythm Serenade

Oct 11, 1943

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77

Brief Encounter

Nov 24, 1945

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78

The Rebel

Mar 07, 1961

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64

Carry On Nurse

Jan 30, 1959

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52

It's in the Bag

Feb 07, 1944

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60

Lionheart

Jan 01, 1968

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68

The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes

Oct 29, 1970

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65

The Wrong Box

Jun 19, 1966

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50

The Spell of Amy Nugent

May 10, 1941

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NA

Room to Let

Jan 01, 1976

poster

55

Absolute Beginners

Apr 04, 1986

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NA

Mr. Proudfoot Shows a Light

Dec 30, 1941

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55

Gasbags

Feb 01, 1941

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71

'Pimpernel' Smith

Jul 28, 1941

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65

Medal for the General

Nov 06, 1944

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50

I'll Walk Beside You

Aug 16, 1943

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62

Smashing Time

Dec 20, 1967

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42

Doctor in Trouble

Jun 16, 1970

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60

The Key

May 28, 1958

poster

55

Millions Like Us

Jun 01, 1943

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40

Hotel du Lac

Mar 02, 1986

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54

Treasure Hunt

Jun 01, 1952

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44

The Hound of the Baskervilles

Aug 01, 1978

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63

The Belles of St. Trinian's

Sep 28, 1954

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70

The Light Princess

Dec 24, 1978

poster

40

Riding High

May 01, 1981

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61

Mad About Men

Nov 16, 1954

poster

NA

Partners in Crime

Jun 02, 1942

poster

65

Get Cracking

May 17, 1943

poster

55

Burnt Evidence

Jul 05, 1954

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63

The Weak and the Wicked

Feb 02, 1954

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71

Brothers in Law

Mar 04, 1957

poster

NA

The Crowning Touch

Jun 01, 1959

poster

10

The Silken Affair

Oct 02, 1956

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60

It's Never Too Late

May 07, 1956

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63

The Terror

May 02, 1938

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52

The Night We Dropped a Clanger

Oct 10, 1959

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60

The Wedding of Lilli Marlene

Nov 30, 1953

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45

The Hills of Donegal

Sep 01, 1947

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72

Night Train to Munich

Aug 31, 1940

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73

Great Day

Jul 09, 1945

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37

Just for Fun

Feb 01, 1963

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57

English Without Tears

Jul 28, 1944

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70

Woman Hater

Oct 13, 1948

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57

The Last Remake of Beau Geste

Jun 15, 1977

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45

Confessions of a Driving Instructor

Sep 01, 1976

poster

NA

Dark Secret

Oct 30, 1949

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66

Adam and Evelyne

May 31, 1949

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56

Upstairs and Downstairs

Nov 02, 1959

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52

Who Done It?

Mar 20, 1956

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51

Meet Mr. Lucifer

Nov 30, 1953

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57

A French Mistress

Aug 25, 1960

poster

NA

Look at Life: Saturday Special

Jan 01, 1969

poster

45

One Wild Oat

May 16, 1951

poster

73

For the Love of Ada

Apr 20, 1970

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52

Metal Mickey

Sep 06, 1980

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75

Hancock's Half Hour

Jul 06, 1956

poster

61

The Adventures of Robin Hood

Sep 26, 1955

poster

NA

Never Say Die

Nov 16, 1987

poster

NA

Mum's Boys

Apr 03, 1968

poster

70

Maggie and Her

Aug 13, 1976

poster

NA

Stryker of the Yard

Nov 02, 1961

poster

70

The Kenny Everett Television Show

Feb 25, 1982

poster

NA

The Cannon & Ball Show

Jul 28, 1979

poster

65

Super Gran

Jan 20, 1985

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NA

World in Ferment

Jun 23, 1969

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NA

Theatre Night

Sep 15, 1985

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NA

Legacy of Murder

Feb 16, 1982

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NA

Educating Archie

Sep 26, 1958

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NA

Ben Travers Farces

Sep 19, 1970