Acting · Hackney, London, England, UK · Born May 31, 1889
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
TVBBC Play of the Month
1965
as Lucy Amorest
The World of Wooster
1965
as Aunt Isbel
The Invasion
1963
as Lady Corm
MovieNurse on Wheels
1963
as Miss Farthingale
MovieI Thank a Fool
1962
as Aunt Heather Chandler
MovieThe Girl on the Boat
1962
as Mrs Adelaide Hignett
MovieTwo and Two Make Six
1962
as Aunt Phoebe Tonks
MovieSatan Never Sleeps
1962
as Sister Agness
MovieFrancis of Assisi
1961
as Aunt Buona
TVThe Avengers
1961
MovieVisa to Canton
1960
as Mao Tai Tai
MovieA French Mistress
1960
as Beatrice Peake
MovieMake Mine Mink
1960
as Dame Beatrice Appleby
A Woman of No Importance
1960
as Lady Hunstanton
TVThe Third Man
1959
MovieThe Inn of the Sixth Happiness
1958
as Jeannie Lawson
MovieHappy Is the Bride
1958
as Aunt Harriet
MovieA Tale of Two Cities
1958
as Miss Pross
MovieNight of the Demon
1957
as Mrs. Karswell
MovieCampbell's Kingdom
1957
as Miss Abigail
MovieHow to Murder a Rich Uncle
1957
as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
MovieDoctor at Large
1957
as Lady Hawkins
TVArmchair Theatre
1956
as Lady Corm
MovieYield to the Night
1956
as Miss Bligh
MovieAs Long as They're Happy
1955
as Mrs. Arbuthnot
MovieFor Better, for Worse
1954
as Miss Mainbrace
MovieThe Weak and the Wicked
1954
as Millie Williams
MovieThe Beggar's Opera
1953
as Mrs. Trapes
MovieThe Pickwick Papers
1952
as Miss Witherfield
MovieMade in Heaven
1952
as Miss Honeycroft
MovieTreasure Hunt
1952
as Consuelo Howard
MovieSecret People
1952
as Mrs. Reginald Kellick
MovieYoung Wives' Tale
1951
as Nanny Gallop
MovieThe Franchise Affair
1951
as Aunt Lin
MovieThe Queen of Spades
1949
as Princess Ivashin
MovieThe First Gentleman
1948
as Miss Knight
MovieJassy
1947
MovieThe Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby
1947
as Miss La Creevy
Dear Octopus
1943
as Aunt Belle
MovieLetter from Home
1941
as Mrs Ashford
MovieQuiet Wedding
1941
as Aunt Mary
MovieYoung Man's Fancy
1939
as Milliner
MovieThe Saint in London
1939
as Mother Buckley
MovieThe Ware Case
1938
as Mrs Pinto
MovieThe Citadel
1938
as Lady Raebank
MovieJane Steps Out
1938
as Grandma
MovieSailing Along
1938
as Victoria Gulliver
MovieNon-Stop New York
1937
as Aunt Veronica
MovieThe Lilac Domino
1937
as Madame Alary
MovieThe Mill on the Floss
1937
as Mrs. Pullet
The Sky’s the Limit
1937
as Miss Prinny
MovieSensation
1936
as Madame Henry
MovieIrish for Luck
1936
as The Duchess
MovieSouthern Roses
1936
as Mrs. Rowland
MovieIt's Love Again
1936
as Mrs. Durland
MovieScrooge
1935
as Scrooge's Charwoman
MovieDrake of England
1935
as Queen Elizabeth
MovieMoscow Nights
1934
as Madame Anna Sabine
MovieBlossom Time
1934
as Archduchess Maria Victoria
MovieThe Private Life of Don Juan
1934
as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
Early to Bed
1933
as Frau Waiser
MovieTell Me Tonight
1932
as Mrs. Pategg
MovieThe Perfect Lady
1931
as Lady Westhaven
The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick
1921
as Rachel Wardle
