Athene Seyler

Born: 1889-05-31

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.


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Night of the Demon

as Mrs. Karswell
Released: 1957-11-09

American professor John Holden arrives in London for a conference on parapsychology only to...

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Scrooge

as Scrooge's Charwoman
Released: 1935-11-26

Ebenezer Scrooge, the ultimate Victorian miser, hasn't a good word for Christmas, though his...

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Secret People

as Mrs. Reginald Kellick
Released: 1952-02-05

This tale of intrigue finds Valentina Cortese involved in an assassination plot. She helps the...

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The Inn of the Sixth Happiness

as Jeannie Lawson
Released: 1958-12-11

All her life, Englishwoman Gladys Aylward knew that China was the place where she belonged. Not...

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Francis of Assisi

as Aunt Buona
Released: 1961-07-12

In 13th century Italy, Francis Bernardone, the son of an Assisi merchant, renounces a promising...

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The Citadel

as Lady Raebank
Released: 1938-10-29

Andrew Manson, a young, idealistic, newly qualified Scottish doctor arrives in Wales takes his...

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Campbell's Kingdom

as Miss Abigail
Released: 1957-09-03

Given only six months to live, Englishman Bruce Campbell goes to Canada to claim "Campbell's...

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The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby

as Miss La Creevy
Released: 1947-03-12

A fatherless boy tries to make his fortune despite interference from his rich uncle.

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A Tale of Two Cities

as Miss Pross
Released: 1958-02-07

British barrister Sydney Carton lives an insubstantial and unhappy life. He falls under the...

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Satan Never Sleeps

as Sister Agness
Released: 1962-02-22

A priest arrives at a mission-post in China accompanied by a young native girl who has joined...

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The Queen of Spades

as Princess Ivashin
Released: 1949-03-16

An elderly countess strikes a bargain with the devil and exchanges her soul for the ability to...

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The Pickwick Papers

as Miss Witherfield
Released: 1952-11-14

The Pickwick Club sends Mr. Pickwick and a group of friends to travel across England and to...

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The Franchise Affair

as Aunt Lin
Released: 1951-02-19

An English country lawyer weighs the case of a schoolgirl who claims she was kidnapped by two women.

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Two and Two Make Six

as Aunt Phoebe Tonks
Released: 1962-05-01

An US airman stationed in the UK strikes down his commanding officer. Believing he killed him,...

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Doctor at Large

as Lady Hawkins
Released: 1957-03-26

Losing out to Dr. Bingham (Michael Medwin) in a competition for house surgeon when he offends a...

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The Weak and the Wicked

as Millie Williams
Released: 1954-02-02

Jean Raymond an upper class woman with a gambling addiction, is given a twelve-month prison...

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The Saint in London

as Mother Buckley
Released: 1939-06-30

Suave soldier of fortune Simon Templer gets mixed up with a gang of counterfeiters who've...

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The Private Life of Don Juan

as Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment
Released: 1934-01-01

What do women want? Don Juan is aging. He's arrived secretly in Seville after a 20 year absence....

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Yield to the Night

as Miss Bligh
Released: 1956-06-19

Locked in her cell, a murderer reflects on the events that have led her to death row.

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How to Murder a Rich Uncle

as Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern)
Released: 1957-06-01

A broke British nobleman targets his Canadian uncle, but other relatives get in the way.

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Make Mine Mink

as Dame Beatrice Appleby
Released: 1960-08-09

In a mansion block in Knightsbridge, a gang of middle-aged biddies decide to brighten up "the...

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Visa to Canton

as Mao Tai Tai
Released: 1960-12-26

A former World War II pilot, now the owner of a travel agency in Hong Kong, gets involved in...

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I Thank a Fool

as Aunt Heather Chandler
Released: 1962-09-14

After mercifully killing her terminally ill lover, Dr. Christine Allison loses her medical...

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Happy Is the Bride

as Aunt Harriet
Released: 1958-03-04

In a quiet summer corner of Wiltshire that is forever England, David and Janet decide to tie the...

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Quiet Wedding

as Aunt Mary
Released: 1941-04-19

A young couple become engaged, but enjoy a number of comedic aventures before their wedding day.

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As Long as They're Happy

as Mrs. Arbuthnot
Released: 1955-03-15

The suburban peace of the Bentley household is shattered when John Bentley is informed by his...

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Young Wives' Tale

as Nanny Gallop
Released: 1951-11-01

A post-war housing crisis leaves a shy woman to share a house with two couples. Comic situations...

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The First Gentleman

as Miss Knight
Released: 1948-03-15

The story of a romance between the daughter of the Prince Regent and Prince Leopold of Saxe-Coburg.

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Nurse on Wheels

as Miss Farthingale
Released: 1963-01-03

Quietly competent young Joanna moves with her scatterbrain mother to a country village to take...

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Non-Stop New York

as Aunt Veronica
Released: 1937-09-13

A young woman finds herself as the intended victim of a murder plot on a transatlantic flight...

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The Ware Case

as Mrs Pinto
Released: 1938-12-02

An aristocrat won't economize, then his rich brother in law is found murdered in the grounds of...

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Treasure Hunt

as Consuelo Howard
Released: 1952-06-01

Short of money the owners of Ballyroden Hall must attempt to run it as a guest house, but not...

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The Beggar's Opera

as Mrs. Trapes
Released: 1953-08-24

Adaptation of John Gay's 18th century opera, featuring Laurence Olivier as MacHeath and Hugh...

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Sensation

as Madame Henry
Released: 1936-12-16

Pat Heaton may be the best crime reporter in town but his fiancée Claire, despairing of the more...

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The Girl on the Boat

as Mrs Adelaide Hignett
Released: 1962-08-05

Norman Wisdom does to P.G. Wodehouse in Girl on the Boat what Jerry Lewis did to Gore Vidal in...

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It's Love Again

as Mrs. Durland
Released: 1936-05-06

Elaine Bradford is a young singer and dancer, looking for her big break. Peter Carlton is a...

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Early to Bed

as Frau Waiser
Released: 1933-08-08

'Manicurist Grete and nightclub waiter Carl share a bed, but not at the same time. They hate...

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Letter from Home

as Mrs Ashford
Released: 1941-12-01

Two evacuee children living in the United States receive a letter from their mother, Mrs Taylor,...

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The Mill on the Floss

as Mrs. Pullet
Released: 1937-01-09

Romeo and Juliet in 1930s England. The owner of the mill and the local lord are in conflict over...

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For Better, for Worse

as Miss Mainbrace
Released: 1954-06-20

In postwar London a young graduate and his girlfriend decide to marry. Her well-to-do parents...

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Sailing Along

as Victoria Gulliver
Released: 1938-04-15

A barge-owner's adopted daughter falls in love with his son, and gives up her chances of stardom...

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Jane Steps Out

as Grandma
Released: 1938-05-16

Wallflower Jane Wilton has always lived in the shadow of her beautiful and popular sister...

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Young Man's Fancy

as Milliner
Released: 1939-07-31

An aristocrat falls in love with a human cannonball

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Drake of England

as Queen Elizabeth
Released: 1935-05-16

Imposing Canadian-born stage actor and playwright Matherson Lang was one of the twentieth...

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Moscow Nights

as Madame Anna Sabine
Released: 1935-11-05

During the First World War, Russian officer Ignatoff, wounded, falls in love with his nurse,...

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Tell Me Tonight

as Mrs. Pategg
Released: 1932-10-31

An Italian operatic tenor is dominated by his female business manager.

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The Lilac Domino

as Madame Alary
Released: 1937-03-31

In this musical, an enigmatic masked woman catches the roving eye of a wily playboy gambler at a...

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Blossom Time

as Archduchess Maria Victoria
Released: 1934-01-01

World-renowned tenor Richard Tauber features in a dramatisation of the life of Schubert,...

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Made in Heaven

as Miss Honeycroft
Released: 1952-11-01

Residents of the small English village of Dunmow react in comical ways when the Topham family...

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The Perfect Lady

as Lady Westhaven
Released: 1931-11-12

'Girl poses as maid of French actress who stole her fiancé.' (British Film Catalogue)

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The Avengers

as uncredited
First aired: 1961-01-07

The Avengers is a British television series created in the 1960s. It initially focused on Dr....

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The Third Man

as uncredited
First aired: 1959-10-02

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