fbpx
Wikipedia

Athene Seyler

January 01, 1970

Athene Seyler, CBE (31 May 1889 – 12 September 1990) was an English actress.

Athene Seyler
Seyler in 1950
Born(1889-05-31)31 May 1889
London, England
Died12 September 1990(1990-09-12) (aged 101)
Hammersmith, London, England
OccupationActress
Years active1909–68
Spouse(s)James Bury Sterndale Bennett (m. 1914; div. 19??)
​
​
(m. 1960; died 1972)​
Children1

Early life edit

She was born in Hackney, London;[1] her German-born grandparents moved to the United Kingdom, where her grandfather Philip Seyler was a merchant in London. Athene Seyler was educated at Coombe Hill School in Surrey, a progressive co-educational school which disliked petitionary prayer and whose advanced biology classes studied Darwin's On the Origin of Species. Seyler took part in an anti-blood sports demonstration, during which pupils captured the fox from the local hunt.[2]

She was also active in the South Place Ethical Society during the 1920s, where her father Clarence H. Seyler took his family for many years to hear Moncure Conway lecture as an alternative to attending a religious Sunday service.[2] Clarence ran a class for the study of Herbert Spencer, contributed to the South Place magazine on rationalist matters and wrote a treatise on birth control which he circulated privately among his family.[2]

Career edit

 
Advertisement for the Seyler Hannen Company

Seyler first appeared on the stage in 1909, and was initially known as a stage actress. She made her film debut in 1921, and subsequently became known for playing slightly dotty old ladies in many British films from the 1930s to the 1960s.

In 1933, Seyler together with Nicholas Hannen, took a company which included Hannen's daughter by his first marriage, Hermione Hannen, on a well-received tour of the Far East and Australia.[3]

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. Although her silent film appearance in Pickwick (1921) is missing, she played the elderly fiancée in The Pickwick Papers (1952). She was cast as a Chinese woman in Passport to China (1960).

Seyler virtually retired from acting after 1970 but continued making public appearances until well into the 1980s, memorably as a guest of Terry Wogan on his eponymous BBC chat show. In 1988, at the age of 99, she was the castaway on radio's Desert Island Discs.[4] 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.[5] She also wrote The Craft of Comedy.

Honours and awards edit

She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959. In 1989 she was honoured as "Personality of the Century" by the Grand Order of Water Rats.

Marriages and relationships edit

 
Seyler and Nicholas Hannen in Winter Sunshine, 1937

On 14 February 1914, she married James Bury Sterndale-Bennett (1889–1941), a grandson of the composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett, and they had a daughter, Jane Ann (1917–2015).

In 1922, she met and started living with fellow actor Nicholas "Beau" Hannen, son of Sir Nicholas Hannen. Hannen was married, and his wife refused a divorce. In 1928, Seyler formally changed her name to Athene Hannen, but she continued to use Seyler professionally. In 1960, she and Hannen were married after his wife died.[1] At the age of 90, Seyler told the interviewer David McGillivray that "she hadn't been made a Dame because for most of her life she lived with a man who wasn't her husband."[6]

Portraits edit

The British National Portrait Gallery has numerous photos of Seyler.

The Australian National Portrait Gallery website has a portrait of Hannen and Seyler together.

Death edit

Athene Seyler died in 1990, aged 101, and her ashes were placed in the Hannen Columbarium in St Mary's Churchyard, Wargrave.[citation needed]

Selected stage performances edit

Filmography edit

Selected television and radio performances edit

  • The Avengers episode entitled "Maneater of Surrey Green" ITV Production 1965
  • The Iron Duchess by William Douglas-Home, BBC radio, broadcast 1966
  • The Reluctant Peer by William Douglas-Home, BBC radio, broadcast 1967

Publications edit

See also edit

References edit

  1. ^ a b "Seyler, Athene (1889–1990)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/40480. (Subscription or UK public library membership required.)
  2. ^ a b c MacKillop, I. D. (27 February 1986). The British Ethical Societies. Cambridge University Press. ISBN 978-0-521-26672-7.
  3. ^ Sydney Morning Herald, 6 May 1933, p8
  4. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - Desert Island Discs, Athene Seyler". BBC. Retrieved 30 August 2023.
  5. ^ . Archived from the original on 19 December 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2013.
  6. ^ D. McGillivray, Little Did You Know: The Confessions of David McGillivray (Godalming: FAB Press, 2019), p. 174.

External links edit

  • Athene Seyler at IMDb
  • Stage performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol
  • Athen Seyler and Nicholas Hannen in 1964 at Buckingham Palace garden party

January 01, 1970
athene, seyler, 1889, september, 1990, english, actress, seyler, 1950born, 1889, 1889london, englanddied12, september, 1990, 1990, aged, hammersmith, london, englandoccupationactressyears, active1909, 68spouse, james, bury, sterndale, bennett, 1914, nicholas, . Athene Seyler CBE 31 May 1889 12 September 1990 was an English actress Athene SeylerSeyler in 1950Born 1889 05 31 31 May 1889London EnglandDied12 September 1990 1990 09 12 aged 101 Hammersmith London EnglandOccupationActressYears active1909 68Spouse s James Bury Sterndale Bennett m 1914 div 19 Nicholas Hannen m 1960 died 1972 wbr Children1 Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Honours and awards 4 Marriages and relationships 5 Portraits 6 Death 7 Selected stage performances 8 Filmography 9 Selected television and radio performances 10 Publications 11 See also 12 References 13 External linksEarly life editShe was born in Hackney London 1 her German born grandparents moved to the United Kingdom where her grandfather Philip Seyler was a merchant in London Athene Seyler was educated at Coombe Hill School in Surrey a progressive co educational school which disliked petitionary prayer and whose advanced biology classes studied Darwin s On the Origin of Species Seyler took part in an anti blood sports demonstration during which pupils captured the fox from the local hunt 2 She was also active in the South Place Ethical Society during the 1920s where her father Clarence H Seyler took his family for many years to hear Moncure Conway lecture as an alternative to attending a religious Sunday service 2 Clarence ran a class for the study of Herbert Spencer contributed to the South Place magazine on rationalist matters and wrote a treatise on birth control which he circulated privately among his family 2 Career edit nbsp Advertisement for the Seyler Hannen Company Seyler first appeared on the stage in 1909 and was initially known as a stage actress She made her film debut in 1921 and subsequently became known for playing slightly dotty old ladies in many British films from the 1930s to the 1960s In 1933 Seyler together with Nicholas Hannen took a company which included Hannen s daughter by his first marriage Hermione Hannen on a well received tour of the Far East and Australia 3 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 Although her silent film appearance in Pickwick 1921 is missing she played the elderly fiancee in The Pickwick Papers 1952 She was cast as a Chinese woman in Passport to China 1960 Seyler virtually retired from acting after 1970 but continued making public appearances until well into the 1980s memorably as a guest of Terry Wogan on his eponymous BBC chat show In 1988 at the age of 99 she was the castaway on radio s Desert Island Discs 4 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 5 She also wrote The Craft of Comedy Honours and awards editShe was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE in 1959 In 1989 she was honoured as Personality of the Century by the Grand Order of Water Rats Marriages and relationships edit nbsp Seyler and Nicholas Hannen in Winter Sunshine 1937 On 14 February 1914 she married James Bury Sterndale Bennett 1889 1941 a grandson of the composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett and they had a daughter Jane Ann 1917 2015 In 1922 she met and started living with fellow actor Nicholas Beau Hannen son of Sir Nicholas Hannen Hannen was married and his wife refused a divorce In 1928 Seyler formally changed her name to Athene Hannen but she continued to use Seyler professionally In 1960 she and Hannen were married after his wife died 1 At the age of 90 Seyler told the interviewer David McGillivray that she hadn t been made a Dame because for most of her life she lived with a man who wasn t her husband 6 Portraits editThe British National Portrait Gallery has numerous photos of Seyler The Australian National Portrait Gallery website has a portrait of Hannen and Seyler together Death editAthene Seyler died in 1990 aged 101 and her ashes were placed in the Hannen Columbarium in St Mary s Churchyard Wargrave citation needed Selected stage performances editHarvey Watch on the Rhine Lady Windermere s Fan Mavourneen by Louis N Parker 1915 The Iron Duchess by William Douglas Home 1957 The Rivals Romeo and Juliet The Cherry Orchard Arsenic and Old LaceFilmography editThe Adventures of Mr Pickwick 1921 Rachel Wardle This Freedom 1923 Miss Keggs The Perfect Lady 1931 Lady Westhaven Tell Me Tonight 1932 Mrs Pategg Early to Bed 1933 Frau Weiser Blossom Time 1934 Archduchess Maria Victoria The Private Life of Don Juan 1934 Theresa the Innkeeper a Middle Aged Lady of Young Sentiment The Rocks of Valpre 1935 Aunt Philippa Royal Cavalcade 1935 Queen Elizabeth I Drake of England 1935 Queen Elizabeth Moscow Nights 1935 Madame Anna Sabline Scrooge 1935 Scrooge s charwoman It s Love Again 1936 Mrs Durland Southern Roses 1936 Mrs Rowland Irish for Luck 1936 The Duchess Sensation 1936 Madame Henry The Mill on the Floss 1937 Mrs Pullet uncredited The Lilac Domino 1937 Madame Alary Non Stop New York 1937 Aunt Veronica Sailing Along 1938 Victoria Gulliver Jane Steps Out 1938 Grandma The Citadel 1938 Lady Raebank The Ware Case 1938 Mrs Pinto The Sky s the Limit 1938 Miss Prinney The Saint in London 1939 Mrs Buckley Young Man s Fancy 1939 Milliner Tilly of Bloomsbury 1940 Mrs Banks The House of the Arrow 1940 uncredited Quiet Wedding 1941 Aunt Mary Dear Octopus 1943 Aunt Belle The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby 1947 Miss La Creevy The First Gentleman 1948 Miss Knight The Queen of Spades 1949 Princess Ivashin The Franchise Affair 1951 Aunt Lin Young Wives Tale 1951 Nanny Gallop Secret People 1952 Mrs Reginald Kellick Treasure Hunt 1952 Consuelo Howard Made in Heaven 1952 Miss Rosabelle Honeycroft The Pickwick Papers 1952 Miss Witherfield The Beggar s Opera 1953 Mrs Trapes The Weak and the Wicked 1954 Millie Williams inmate For Better for Worse 1954 Miss Mainbrace As Long as They re Happy 1955 Mrs Arbuthnot Yield to the Night 1956 Miss Bligh Doctor at Large 1957 Lady Hawkins How to Murder a Rich Uncle 1957 Grannie Campbell s Kingdom 1957 Miss Abigail Night of the Demon 1957 Mrs Karswell A Tale of Two Cities 1958 Miss Emily Pross Happy Is the Bride 1958 Aunt Harriet The Inn of the Sixth Happiness 1958 Jeannie Lawson Make Mine Mink 1960 Dame Beatrice Appleby DBE A French Mistress 1960 Beatrice Peake Visa to Canton 1961 Mao Tai Tai Francis of Assisi 1961 Aunt Buona The Devil Never Sleeps 1962 Sister Agness Two and Two Make Six 1962 Aunt Phoebe Tonks I Thank a Fool 1962 Aunt Heather The Girl on the Boat 1962 Mrs Adelaide Hignett Nurse on Wheels 1963 Miss FarthingaleSelected television and radio performances editThe Avengers episode entitled Maneater of Surrey Green ITV Production 1965 The Iron Duchess by William Douglas Home BBC radio broadcast 1966 The Reluctant Peer by William Douglas Home BBC radio broadcast 1967Publications editwith Stephen Haggard The Craft of Comedy 1944 reprinted by Routledge 2012See also editList of centenarians actors filmmakers and entertainers References edit a b Seyler Athene 1889 1990 Oxford Dictionary of National Biography online ed Oxford University Press doi 10 1093 ref odnb 40480 Subscription or UK public library membership required a b c MacKillop I D 27 February 1986 The British Ethical Societies Cambridge University Press ISBN 978 0 521 26672 7 Sydney Morning Herald 6 May 1933 p8 BBC Radio 4 Desert Island Discs Athene Seyler BBC Retrieved 30 August 2023 The Theatrical Guild Our History Archived from the original on 19 December 2013 Retrieved 18 December 2013 D McGillivray Little Did You Know The Confessions of David McGillivray Godalming FAB Press 2019 p 174 External links editAthene Seyler at IMDb Stage performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol Athen Seyler and Nicholas Hannen in 1964 at Buckingham Palace garden party Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Athene Seyler amp oldid 1212723160, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

article

, read, download, free, free download, mp3, video, mp4, 3gp, jpg, jpeg, gif, png, picture, music, song, movie, book, game, games.