Athene Seyler

Athene Seyler, (also known as Athene Hannen) 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 and made her film debut in 1921, and became known for playing slightly dotty old ladies.

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 the silent film, Pickwick (1921) is missing she played the elderly fiancée in The Pickwick Papers (1952).

Although she virtually retired from acting after 1970, she continued making public appearances until well into the 1980s, memorably as a guest of Terry Wogan on his eponymous BBC chat show.

Athene Seyler was President of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA) from 1950, and a member of the Theatrical Ladies Guild.^[2] She also wrote The Art of Comedy.

She married James Bury Sterndale-Bennett (1889–1941), a grandson of the composer Sir William Sterndale Bennett. From 1922, she lived 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. In 1960, she and Hannen were married after his wife died.^[3]

She was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1959.

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

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

Selected stage performances

• Harvey
• Watch on the Rhine
• Lady Windermere's Fan
• The Rivals
• Romeo and Juliet
• The Cherry Orchard
• Arsenic and Old Lace

Selected filmography

• The Adventures of Mr. Pickwick (1921)
• This Freedom (1923)
• The Rocks of Valpre (1935)
• Drake of England (1935)
• Moscow Nights (1935)
• Scrooge (1935)
• Sensation (1936)
• The Mill on the Floss (1937)
• Jane Steps Out (1938)
• Tilly of Bloomsbury (1940)
• Quiet Wedding (1941)
• Dear Octopus (1943)
• The First Gentleman (1948)
• The Franchise Affair (1951)
• Young Wives' Tale (1951)
• The Secret People (1952)
• Treasure Hunt (1952)
• The Beggar's Opera (1953)
• The Weak and the Wicked (1954)
• For Better, for Worse (1954)
• As Long as They're Happy (1955)
• Yield to the Night (1956)
• Doctor at Large (1957)
• Campbell's Kingdom (1957)
• Night of the Demon (1957)
• How to Murder a Rich Uncle (1957)
• A Tale of Two Cities (1958)
• Happy is the Bride (1958)
• The Inn of the Sixth Happiness (1958)
• Make Mine Mink (1960)
• The Girl on the Boat (1961)
• Francis of Assisi (1961)
• Two and Two Make Six (1962)
• I Thank a Fool (1962)
• Nurse on Wheels (1963)

Selected television & radio performances

• The Iron Duchess by William Douglas-Home, BBC radio, broadcast 1966.
• The Reluctant Peer by William Douglas-Home, BBC radio, broadcast 1967

Publications

• with Stephen Haggard The Craft of Comedy (1944)

See also

• List of centenarians (actors, filmmakers and entertainers)

References

External links

• Athene Seyler at the Internet Movie Database
• Stage performances listed in the Theatre Archive University of Bristol