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Athene Seyler

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.

Don't Utter a Note

1966

as Nellie Pringle

The Invasion

1963

as Lady Corm

Nurse on Wheels

1963

as Miss Farthingale

I Thank a Fool

1962

as Aunt Heather Chandler

The Girl on the Boat

1962

as Mrs Adelaide Hignett

Two and Two Make Six

1962

as Aunt Phoebe Tonks

Satan Never Sleeps

1962

as Sister Agness

Francis of Assisi

1961

as Aunt Buona

The Avengers

1961

Visa to Canton

1960

as Mao Tai Tai

A French Mistress

1960

as Beatrice Peake

Make Mine Mink

1960

as Dame Beatrice Appleby

The Third Man

1959

The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

1958

as Jeannie Lawson

Happy Is the Bride

1958

as Aunt Harriet

A Tale of Two Cities

1958

as Miss Pross

Night of the Demon

1957

as Mrs. Karswell

Campbell's Kingdom

1957

as Miss Abigail

How to Murder a Rich Uncle

1957

as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)

Doctor at Large

1957

as Lady Hawkins

Yield to the Night

1956

as Miss Bligh

As Long as They're Happy

1955

as Mrs. Arbuthnot

For Better, for Worse

1954

as Miss Mainbrace

The Weak and the Wicked

1954

as Millie Williams

The Beggar's Opera

1953

as Mrs. Trapes

The Pickwick Papers

1952

as Miss Witherfield

Made in Heaven

1952

as Miss Honeycroft

Treasure Hunt

1952

as Consuelo Howard

Secret People

1952

as Mrs. Reginald Kellick

Young Wives' Tale

1951

as Nanny Gallop

The Franchise Affair

1951

as Aunt Lin

The Queen of Spades

1949

as Princess Ivashin

The First Gentleman

1948

as Miss Knight

The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

1947

as Miss La Creevy

Dear Octopus

1943

as Aunt Belle

Letter from Home

1941

as Mrs Ashford

Quiet Wedding

1941

as Aunt Mary

Young Man's Fancy

1939

as Milliner

The Saint in London

1939

as Mother Buckley

The Ware Case

1938

as Mrs Pinto

The Citadel

1938

as Lady Raebank

Jane Steps Out

1938

as Grandma

Sailing Along

1938

as Victoria Gulliver

Non-Stop New York

1937

as Aunt Veronica

The Lilac Domino

1937

as Madame Alary

The Mill on the Floss

1937

as Mrs. Pullet

The Sky’s the Limit

1937

as Miss Prinny

Sensation

1936

as Madame Henry

It's Love Again

1936

as Mrs. Durland

Scrooge

1935

as Scrooge's Charwoman

Moscow Nights

1935

as Madame Anna Sabine

Drake of England

1935

as Queen Elizabeth

Blossom Time

1934

as Archduchess Maria Victoria

The Private Life of Don Juan

1934

as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment

Early to Bed

1933

as Frau Waiser

Tell Me Tonight

1932

as Mrs. Pategg

The Perfect Lady

1931

as Lady Westhaven

The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick

1921

as Rachel Wardle