Irene Handl(1901-1987)
- Actress
English character actress best known for her many portrayals of feisty
cockney types, ranging from barmaids to landladies, charwomen to cooks.
Unlike her working class screen personae, Irene's parentage was quite
cosmopolitan, her father (Frederick) a Viennese banker, her mother (Maria) a French
aristocrat - affluent enough to enable her to travel extensively in her
youth. She received her acting training at the Embassy School, under
the auspices of the sister of
Sybil Thorndike, but did not make her
debut on the London stage until 1938.
Her first successful role was in a West End comedy entitled
'George and Margaret' and this led to many other parts, including 'Blithe Spirit' by Noël Coward.
From 1937, plump, cheerful Irene Handl became a popular supporting
character in British films, usually in small roles or cameos, often as
eccentric or pixillated old ladies. On occasion she could be a
scene-stealer, as in
I'm All Right Jack (1959) as
the grumbling wife of shop steward
Peter Sellers. She was also the
definitive Mrs. Hudson, landlady to the famous detective at 221b Baker
Street, in
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970).
Irene Handl enjoyed a prolific career on radio (partnering
Arthur Askey in
'Hello Playmates' and Tony Hancock
in
'Hancock's Half Hour'), as well as in television. Her best-loved appearance was opposite Wilfred Pickles
in the title role of Ada Cresswell in the sitcom
For the Love of Ada (1970).
She also made guest appearances in numerous shows, ranging from
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955)
to The Rag Trade (1975), and
remained an active performer well into her eighties. She also narrated an audio-book version of The Importance of Being Earnest and published two novels: The Sioux in 1969 (described by a reviewer as a 'gothic comic melodrama') and a more downbeat sequel, The Gold Tip Pfitzer in 1986. Besides acting and writing, Handl was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, loved Chihuahua dogs and Rock and Roll music. Irene never married. Shortly before she died at her flat in Kensington, she had been making plans for a third novel.
cockney types, ranging from barmaids to landladies, charwomen to cooks.
Unlike her working class screen personae, Irene's parentage was quite
cosmopolitan, her father (Frederick) a Viennese banker, her mother (Maria) a French
aristocrat - affluent enough to enable her to travel extensively in her
youth. She received her acting training at the Embassy School, under
the auspices of the sister of
Sybil Thorndike, but did not make her
debut on the London stage until 1938.
Her first successful role was in a West End comedy entitled
'George and Margaret' and this led to many other parts, including 'Blithe Spirit' by Noël Coward.
From 1937, plump, cheerful Irene Handl became a popular supporting
character in British films, usually in small roles or cameos, often as
eccentric or pixillated old ladies. On occasion she could be a
scene-stealer, as in
I'm All Right Jack (1959) as
the grumbling wife of shop steward
Peter Sellers. She was also the
definitive Mrs. Hudson, landlady to the famous detective at 221b Baker
Street, in
The Private Life of Sherlock Holmes (1970).
Irene Handl enjoyed a prolific career on radio (partnering
Arthur Askey in
'Hello Playmates' and Tony Hancock
in
'Hancock's Half Hour'), as well as in television. Her best-loved appearance was opposite Wilfred Pickles
in the title role of Ada Cresswell in the sitcom
For the Love of Ada (1970).
She also made guest appearances in numerous shows, ranging from
The Adventures of Robin Hood (1955)
to The Rag Trade (1975), and
remained an active performer well into her eighties. She also narrated an audio-book version of The Importance of Being Earnest and published two novels: The Sioux in 1969 (described by a reviewer as a 'gothic comic melodrama') and a more downbeat sequel, The Gold Tip Pfitzer in 1986. Besides acting and writing, Handl was a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, loved Chihuahua dogs and Rock and Roll music. Irene never married. Shortly before she died at her flat in Kensington, she had been making plans for a third novel.