Irene Handl

Personal Info

Birthday

December 27, 1901

Day of Death

1987-11-29

(85 years old)

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.

Known For

The Adventures of Robin Hood

In Sickness and in Health

The Italian Job

Super Gran

Theatre Night

Night Train to Munich

Brief Encounter

The Shop at Sly Corner

Filmography

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