Athene Seyler

Known For

Acting

Born

May 31, 1889

Died

Sep 12, 1990

Place of Birth

Hackney, London, England, UK

Credits

65 titles

Athene Seyler

Biography

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

Filmography

1966

Don't Utter a Note

Nellie Pringle

Movie
1965

BBC Play of the Month

Lucy Amorest

Tv
1965

The World of Wooster

Aunt Isbel

Tv
1963

The Invasion

Lady Corm

Movie
1963

Nurse on Wheels

Miss Farthingale

Movie
1962

I Thank a Fool

Aunt Heather Chandler

Movie
1962

The Girl on the Boat

Mrs Adelaide Hignett

Movie
1962

Two and Two Make Six

Aunt Phoebe Tonks

Movie
1962

Satan Never Sleeps

Sister Agness

Movie
1961

Francis of Assisi

Aunt Buona

Movie
1961

The Avengers

Tv
1960

Visa to Canton

Mao Tai Tai

Movie
1960

A French Mistress

Beatrice Peake

Movie
1960

Make Mine Mink

Dame Beatrice Appleby

Movie
1960

A Woman of No Importance

Lady Hunstanton

Movie
1959

The Third Man

Tv
1958

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

Jeannie Lawson

Movie
1958

Happy Is the Bride

Aunt Harriet

Movie
1958

A Tale of Two Cities

Miss Pross

Movie
1957

Night of the Demon

Mrs. Karswell

Movie
1957

Campbell's Kingdom

Miss Abigail

Movie
1957

How to Murder a Rich Uncle

Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)

Movie
1957

Doctor at Large

Lady Hawkins

Movie
1956

Armchair Theatre

Lady Corm

Tv
1956

Yield to the Night

Miss Bligh

Movie
1955

As Long as They're Happy

Mrs. Arbuthnot

Movie
1954

For Better, for Worse

Miss Mainbrace

Movie
1954

The Weak and the Wicked

Millie Williams

Movie
1953

The Beggar's Opera

Mrs. Trapes

Movie
1952

The Pickwick Papers

Miss Witherfield

Movie
1952

Made in Heaven

Miss Honeycroft

Movie
1952

Treasure Hunt

Consuelo Howard

Movie
1952

Secret People

Mrs. Reginald Kellick

Movie
1951

Young Wives' Tale

Nanny Gallop

Movie
1951

The Franchise Affair

Aunt Lin

Movie
1949

The Queen of Spades

Princess Ivashin

Movie
1948

The First Gentleman

Miss Knight

Movie
1947

Jassy

Movie
1947

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

Miss La Creevy

Movie
1943

Dear Octopus

Aunt Belle

Movie
1941

Letter from Home

Mrs Ashford

Movie
1941

Quiet Wedding

Aunt Mary

Movie
1939

Young Man's Fancy

Milliner

Movie
1939

The Saint in London

Mother Buckley

Movie
1938

The Ware Case

Mrs Pinto

Movie
1938

The Citadel

Lady Raebank

Movie
1938

Jane Steps Out

Grandma

Movie
1938

Sailing Along

Victoria Gulliver

Movie
1937

Non-Stop New York

Aunt Veronica

Movie
1937

The Lilac Domino

Madame Alary

Movie