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Irene Handl
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==Life== 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 ({{nee}} Schiepp or Schuepp; 1875{{snd}}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.<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/2352/images/rg14_00586_0315_03?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=e3bfdef2aa963b6ce41d228265895369&usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=1618219 1911 census record for Irene Handl], Ancestry.com. Accessed 1 October 2022. {{subscription required}}</ref> From 1907 to 1915, Handl attended the Paddington and Maida Vale High School.<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1938/images/31949_214879-00202?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=e3bfdef2aa963b6ce41d228265895369&usePUB=true&_phsrc=QKi76&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&_ga=2.174675618.1235551583.1622587491-752963078.1621020919&pId=9180982 Irene Handl in the London, England, School Admissions and Discharges, 1840–1911: Ancestry.com {{subscription required}}]</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1518/images/30807_A000774-00093?treeid=&personid=&hintid=&queryId=e3bfdef2aa963b6ce41d228265895369&usePUB=true&_phsrc=QKi75&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=28034218 UK and Ireland, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1878-1960 for Irene Handl, Southampton, England, 1924: Ancestry.com {{subscription required}}]</ref> 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.<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/61596/images/tna_r39_0467_0467e_003?usePUB=true&usePUBJs=true&pId=8384278 1939 England and Wales Register for Irene Handl, London, St Marylebone: Ancestry.com {{subscription required}}]</ref> She continued to live with her father until his death in 1961.<ref>[https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1795/images/40020_215115-00503?usePUB=true&_phsrc=QKi78&_phstart=successSource&usePUBJs=true&pId=107483908 London, England, Electoral Registers, 1832–1965 for Irene Handl, City of London, London And Westminster: Ancestry.com {{subscription required}}]</ref> 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.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.comedy.co.uk/features/comedy_chronicles/irene_handl/|title=The hidden world of Irene Handl - Comedy Chronicles|date=2020-01-22|website=British Comedy Guide|language=en-GB|access-date=2020-04-27}}</ref> She was also a fellow of the [[Royal Geographical Society]], and one of Britain's most avid champions of [[Chihuahua (dog)|Chihuahuas]], being inseparable from the pair that she owned.<ref name=":0" />
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