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.
Filmography
Don't Utter a Note
as Nellie Pringle
Don't Utter a Note
as Nellie Pringle
The Invasion
as Lady Corm
The Invasion
as Lady Corm
Nurse on Wheels
as Miss Farthingale
Nurse on Wheels
as Miss Farthingale
I Thank a Fool
as Aunt Heather Chandler
I Thank a Fool
as Aunt Heather Chandler
The Girl on the Boat
as Mrs Adelaide Hignett
The Girl on the Boat
as Mrs Adelaide Hignett
Two and Two Make Six
as Aunt Phoebe Tonks
Two and Two Make Six
as Aunt Phoebe Tonks
Satan Never Sleeps
as Sister Agness
Satan Never Sleeps
as Sister Agness
Visa to Canton
as Mao Tai Tai
Visa to Canton
as Mao Tai Tai
A French Mistress
as Beatrice Peake
A French Mistress
as Beatrice Peake
Make Mine Mink
as Dame Beatrice Appleby
Make Mine Mink
as Dame Beatrice Appleby
A Woman of No Importance
as Lady Hunstanton
A Woman of No Importance
as Lady Hunstanton
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
as Jeannie Lawson
The Inn of the Sixth Happiness
as Jeannie Lawson
Happy Is the Bride
as Aunt Harriet
Happy Is the Bride
as Aunt Harriet
Night of the Demon
as Mrs. Karswell
Night of the Demon
as Mrs. Karswell
Campbell's Kingdom
as Miss Abigail
Campbell's Kingdom
as Miss Abigail
How to Murder a Rich Uncle
as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
How to Murder a Rich Uncle
as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
Doctor at Large
as Lady Hawkins
Doctor at Large
as Lady Hawkins
Yield to the Night
as Miss Bligh
Yield to the Night
as Miss Bligh
As Long as They're Happy
as Mrs. Arbuthnot
As Long as They're Happy
as Mrs. Arbuthnot
For Better, for Worse
as Miss Mainbrace
For Better, for Worse
as Miss Mainbrace
The Weak and the Wicked
as Millie Williams
The Weak and the Wicked
as Millie Williams
The Beggar's Opera
as Mrs. Trapes
The Beggar's Opera
as Mrs. Trapes
The Pickwick Papers
as Miss Witherfield
The Pickwick Papers
as Miss Witherfield
Made in Heaven
as Miss Honeycroft
Made in Heaven
as Miss Honeycroft
Treasure Hunt
as Consuelo Howard
Treasure Hunt
as Consuelo Howard
Secret People
as Mrs. Reginald Kellick
Secret People
as Mrs. Reginald Kellick
Young Wives' Tale
as Nanny Gallop
Young Wives' Tale
as Nanny Gallop
The Franchise Affair
as Aunt Lin
The Franchise Affair
as Aunt Lin
The Queen of Spades
as Princess Ivashin
The Queen of Spades
as Princess Ivashin
The First Gentleman
as Miss Knight
The First Gentleman
as Miss Knight
Jassy
Jassy
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
as Miss La Creevy
The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
as Miss La Creevy
Dear Octopus
as Aunt Belle
Dear Octopus
as Aunt Belle
Letter from Home
as Mrs Ashford
Letter from Home
as Mrs Ashford
Quiet Wedding
as Aunt Mary
Quiet Wedding
as Aunt Mary
Young Man's Fancy
as Milliner
Young Man's Fancy
as Milliner
The Saint in London
as Mother Buckley
The Saint in London
as Mother Buckley
The Ware Case
as Mrs Pinto
The Ware Case
as Mrs Pinto
The Citadel
as Lady Raebank
The Citadel
as Lady Raebank
Jane Steps Out
as Grandma
Jane Steps Out
as Grandma
Sailing Along
as Victoria Gulliver
Sailing Along
as Victoria Gulliver
Non-Stop New York
as Aunt Veronica
Non-Stop New York
as Aunt Veronica
The Lilac Domino
as Madame Alary
The Lilac Domino
as Madame Alary
The Mill on the Floss
as Mrs. Pullet
The Mill on the Floss
as Mrs. Pullet
The Sky’s the Limit
as Miss Prinny
The Sky’s the Limit
as Miss Prinny
Sensation
as Madame Henry
Sensation
as Madame Henry
Irish for Luck
as The Duchess
Irish for Luck
as The Duchess
Southern Roses
as Mrs. Rowland
Southern Roses
as Mrs. Rowland
It's Love Again
as Mrs. Durland
It's Love Again
as Mrs. Durland
Scrooge
as Scrooge's Charwoman
Scrooge
as Scrooge's Charwoman
Drake of England
as Queen Elizabeth
Drake of England
as Queen Elizabeth
Moscow Nights
as Madame Anna Sabine
Moscow Nights
as Madame Anna Sabine
Blossom Time
as Archduchess Maria Victoria
Blossom Time
as Archduchess Maria Victoria
The Private Life of Don Juan
as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
The Private Life of Don Juan
as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
Early to Bed
as Frau Waiser
Early to Bed
as Frau Waiser
The Perfect Lady
as Lady Westhaven
The Perfect Lady
as Lady Westhaven
The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick
as Rachel Wardle
The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick
as Rachel Wardle