Known For
Acting
Known Credits
68
Gender
Female
Birthday
May 31, 1889 (137 years old)
Place of Birth
Hackney, London, England, UK
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.
| 1966 | Don't Utter a Noteas Nellie Pringle | |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Monthas Lucy Amorest | |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Monthas Mrs. Boham | |
| 1965 | BBC Play of the Monthas Mrs. Whyte | |
| 1965 | The World of Woosteras Aunt Isbel | |
| 1963 | The Invasionas Lady Corm | |
| 1963 | Nurse on Wheelsas Miss Farthingale | |
| 1962 | I Thank a Foolas Aunt Heather Chandler | |
| 1962 | The Girl on the Boatas Mrs Adelaide Hignett | |
| 1962 | Two and Two Make Sixas Aunt Phoebe Tonks | |
| 1962 | Satan Never Sleepsas Sister Agness | |
| 1961 | Francis of Assisias Aunt Buona | |
| 1961 | The Avengersas | |
| 1960 | Visa to Cantonas Mao Tai Tai | |
| 1960 | A French Mistressas Beatrice Peake | |
| 1960 | Make Mine Minkas Dame Beatrice Appleby | |
| 1960 | A Woman of No Importanceas Lady Hunstanton | |
| 1959 | The Third Manas | |
| 1958 | The Inn of the Sixth Happinessas Jeannie Lawson | |
| 1958 | Happy Is the Brideas Aunt Harriet | |
| 1958 | A Tale of Two Citiesas Miss Pross | |
| 1957 | Night of the Demonas Mrs. Karswell | |
| 1957 | Campbell's Kingdomas Miss Abigail | |
| 1957 | How to Murder a Rich Uncleas Grannie (Victoria Clitterbern) | |
| 1957 | Doctor at Largeas Lady Hawkins | |
| 1956 | Armchair Theatreas Lady Corm | |
| 1956 | Armchair Theatreas Nellie Pringle | |
| 1956 | Yield to the Nightas Miss Bligh | |
| 1955 | As Long as They're Happyas Mrs. Arbuthnot | |
| 1954 | For Better, for Worseas Miss Mainbrace | |
| 1954 | The Weak and the Wickedas Millie Williams | |
| 1953 | The Beggar's Operaas Mrs. Trapes | |
| 1952 | The Pickwick Papersas Miss Witherfield | |
| 1952 | Made in Heavenas Miss Honeycroft | |
| 1952 | Treasure Huntas Consuelo Howard | |
| 1952 | Secret Peopleas Mrs. Reginald Kellick | |
| 1951 | Young Wives' Taleas Nanny Gallop | |
| 1951 | The Franchise Affairas Aunt Lin | |
| 1949 | The Queen of Spadesas Princess Ivashin | |
| 1948 | The First Gentlemanas Miss Knight | |
| 1947 | Jassyas | |
| 1947 | The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nicklebyas Miss La Creevy | |
| 1943 | Dear Octopusas Aunt Belle | |
| 1941 | Letter from Homeas Mrs Ashford | |
| 1941 | Quiet Weddingas Aunt Mary | |
| 1939 | Young Man's Fancyas Milliner | |
| 1939 | The Saint in Londonas Mother Buckley | |
| 1938 | The Ware Caseas Mrs Pinto | |
| 1938 | The Citadelas Lady Raebank | |
| 1938 | Jane Steps Outas Grandma | |
| 1938 | Sailing Alongas Victoria Gulliver | |
| 1937 | Non-Stop New Yorkas Aunt Veronica | |
| 1937 | The Lilac Dominoas Madame Alary | |
| 1937 | The Mill on the Flossas Mrs. Pullet | |
| 1937 | The Sky’s the Limitas Miss Prinny | |
| 1936 | Irish for Luckas The Duchess | |
| 1936 | Sensationas Madame Henry | |
| 1936 | Southern Rosesas Mrs. Rowland | |
| 1936 | It's Love Againas Mrs. Durland | |
| 1935 | Scroogeas Scrooge's Charwoman | |
| 1935 | Drake of Englandas Queen Elizabeth | |
| 1934 | Moscow Nightsas Madame Anna Sabine | |
| 1934 | Blossom Timeas Archduchess Maria Victoria | |
| 1934 | The Private Life of Don Juanas Theresa, the Innkeeper, a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment | |
| 1933 | Early to Bedas Frau Waiser | |
| 1932 | Tell Me Tonightas Mrs. Pategg | |
| 1931 | The Perfect Ladyas Lady Westhaven | |
| 1921 | The Adventures of Mr. Pickwickas Rachel Wardle |