Nicholas James "Beau" Hannen OBE (mil) (1881-1972) was a British actor of the early and mid-twentieth century who acted in a number of stage plays and movies.
Hannen was born on 1 May 1881 in London, England[1] He was brought up in Yokohama and Shanghai where his father, Sir Nicholas John Hannen was serving, first as Judge of the British Court for Japan (1881-1891) and then Chief Justice of the British Supreme Court for China and Japan (1891-1900) as well as Consul-General in Shanghai (1891-1897). His uncle, James Hannen was also a noted English judge. Sir Nicholas Hannen died, in 1900, at the young age of 58 in Shanghai just before Beau turned 17. Sir Nicholas was given a funeral with full honours including a full honour guard from the crew of the HMS Hermione then in harbour in Shanghai and the pallbearers at his funeral were from the crew of the boat.[2]
From 1902 to 1905 Hannen worked in the offices of the famous architect Edwin Lutyens as an apprentice. Lutyens designed a Columbarium for the Hannen family that was completed in 1907. It still stands to this day in the graveyard of St Mary's Churchyard in Wargrave[3]. In 1907, his mother, Jessie (nee Woodhouse) died and her ashes as well as his father's ashes were interred in the Columbarium.
Hannen married Muriel Morland, the daughter of the late Sir Henry and Lady Morland in 1907[4]. They had two daughters and a son. One of his daughters, Hermione Hannen, was born in 1913 and presumably named after the HMS Hermione. She also went on to have a successful acting career. Another daughter, Jane Hannen also became an actress.
In 1910, he went to the stage professionally. He joined the army in 1915 and returned to the stage after being demobilised.[5]
In 1922 he met the actress Athene Seyler (1889-1990) and they started living together. His first wife refused a divorce so they were not able to marry until 1960 after his first wife died. Seyler, however, changed her name by deed poll to Hannen in 1928.[6]
The Internet Movie Database shows him performing in 26 films between 1931 and 1960, including Richard III as the Archibishop and Henry V as the Duke of Exeter. He also appeared in close to 50 stage plays in London.[7]
Hannen died on 25 June 1972 in London and his ashes were interred in the Hannen Columbarium in St Mary's Churchyard[8]. Upon her death Athene Hannen's ashes were also interred in the Columbarium.[9]
His grandaughter Ariane Mnouchkine, daughter of Jane Hannen, is a world-renowned French stage director.
The Australian National Portrait Gallery website has a portrait of Hannen and Seyler together.