Athene Seyler
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 1889 – 12 September 1990) was an English actress. Although better known as a stage actress - she first appeared on the stage in 1909 - she made her film debut in 1921, and became known for playing slightly dotty old ladies in many British films from the 1930s to the 1960s. Her most memorable stage credits included Mrs. Malaprop in The Rivals, Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest, and a double-act, with her good friend Dame Sybil Thorndike, as the murderous spinster sisters in Arsenic and Old Lace. Her film and television career lasted into the 1960s, and included roles in The Citadel (1938), Night of the Demon (1957), and The Avengers (1964, 1965). She was also a regular cast member in screen adaptations of Charles Dickens' novels. She virtually retired from acting after 1970, but continued making public appearances until well into the 1980s. In 1990, at the age of 101, she appeared at the National Theatre, talking about her long life and career. Athene Seyler was President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1950, and a member of the Theatrical Ladies' Guild. She also wrote The Craft of Comedy. She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959.
Known For
Credits
- 1966 · Don't Utter a Note as Nellie Pringle
- 1963 · The Invasion as Lady Corm
- 1963 · Nurse on Wheels as Miss Farthingale
- 1962 · I Thank a Fool as Aunt Heather Chandler
- 1962 · The Girl on the Boat as Mrs Adelaide Hignett
- 1962 · Two and Two Make Six as Aunt Phoebe Tonks
- 1962 · Satan Never Sleeps as Sister Agness
- 1961 · Francis of Assisi as Aunt Buona
- 1961 · The Avengers as
- 1960 · Visa to Canton as Mao Tai Tai
- 1960 · A French Mistress as Beatrice Peake
- 1960 · Make Mine Mink as Dame Beatrice Appleby
- 1959 · The Third Man as
- 1958 · The Inn of the Sixth Happiness as Jeannie Lawson
- 1958 · Happy Is the Bride as Aunt Harriet
- 1958 · A Tale of Two Cities as Miss Pross
- 1957 · Night of the Demon as Mrs. Karswell
- 1957 · Campbell's Kingdom as Miss Abigail
- 1957 · How to Murder a Rich Uncle as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
- 1957 · Doctor at Large as Lady Hawkins
- 1956 · Yield to the Night as Miss Bligh
- 1955 · As Long as They're Happy as Mrs. Arbuthnot
- 1954 · For Better, for Worse as Miss Mainbrace
- 1954 · The Weak and the Wicked as Millie Williams
- 1953 · The Beggar's Opera as Mrs. Trapes
- 1952 · The Pickwick Papers as Miss Witherfield
- 1952 · Made in Heaven as Miss Honeycroft
- 1952 · Treasure Hunt as Consuelo Howard
- 1952 · Secret People as Mrs. Reginald Kellick
- 1951 · Young Wives' Tale as Nanny Gallop
- 1951 · The Franchise Affair as Aunt Lin
- 1949 · The Queen of Spades as Princess Ivashin
- 1948 · The First Gentleman as Miss Knight
- 1947 · The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby as Miss La Creevy
- 1943 · Dear Octopus as Aunt Belle
- 1941 · Letter from Home as Mrs Ashford
- 1941 · Quiet Wedding as Aunt Mary
- 1939 · Young Man's Fancy as Milliner
- 1939 · The Saint in London as Mother Buckley
- 1938 · The Ware Case as Mrs Pinto
- 1938 · The Citadel as Lady Raebank
- 1938 · Jane Steps Out as Grandma
- 1938 · Sailing Along as Victoria Gulliver
- 1937 · Non-Stop New York as Aunt Veronica
- 1937 · The Lilac Domino as Madame Alary
- 1937 · The Mill on the Floss as Mrs. Pullet
- 1937 · The Sky’s the Limit as Miss Prinny
- 1936 · Sensation as Madame Henry
- 1936 · It's Love Again as Mrs. Durland
- 1935 · Scrooge as Scrooge's Charwoman
- 1935 · Moscow Nights as Madame Anna Sabine
- 1935 · Drake of England as Queen Elizabeth
- 1934 · The Private Life of Don Juan as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
- 1934 · Blossom Time as Archduchess Maria Victoria
- 1933 · Early to Bed as Frau Waiser
- 1932 · Tell Me Tonight as Mrs. Pategg
- 1931 · The Perfect Lady as Lady Westhaven
- 1921 · The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick as Rachel Wardle