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Prunella Scales
Actor

Prunella Scales

22 Jun 1932Born
27 Oct 2025Died
93Age at death
97Credits

Biography

Prunella Margaret Rumney West Scales CBE (née Illingworth; 22 June 1932) was an English former actor, best known for playing Sybil Fawlty, wife of Basil Fawlty (John Cleese), in the BBC comedy Fawlty Towers; for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth II in A Question of Attribution (Screen One, BBC 1991) by Alan Bennett (for which she was nominated for a BAFTA award); and for the documentary series Great Canal Journeys (2014–2021), in which she travels on canal barges and narrowboats with her husband, fellow actor Timothy West.

Known for

Filmography

The 80 most recent of 97 credits.

  1. 2025The Cancellation Of Fawlty TowersFilm
  2. 2014Sub RosaFilm: Madame
  3. 2013The Phone CallFilm: Joan
  4. 2012Run For Your WifeFilm: Woman in Pub
  5. 2011Horrid Henry: The MovieFilm: Great Aunt Greta
  6. 2007The Shell SeekersFilm: Dolly Keeling
  7. 2007ThinkFilm: Customer
  8. 2006Mr. Loveday's Little OutingFilm: Lady Moping
  9. 2005The Funny Blokes of British ComedyFilm: Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
  10. 2004Agatha Christie's MarpleSeries: Mrs Mackenzie (1 episode)
  11. 2003The RoyalSeries: Red Admiral (1 episode)
  12. 2002DickensSeries: Elizabeth Dickens (1 episode)
  13. 2002A Day in the Death of Joe EggFilm: Grace
  14. 2001Station JimFilm: Queen Victoria
  15. 2000The Ghost of Greville LodgeFilm: Sarah
  16. 1999Mad CowsFilm: Dr. Minny Stinkler
  17. 1999An Ideal HusbandFilm: Lady Markby
  18. 1998Stiff Upper LipsFilm: Aunt Agnes
  19. 1997Keeping MumSeries: Marjorie (1 episode)
  20. 1997An Audience with Alf GarnettFilm
  21. 1997Midsomer MurdersSeries: Eleanor Bunsall (1 episode)
  22. 1996EmmaFilm: Miss Bates
  23. 1996Breaking the CodeFilm: Sara Turing
  24. 1996Lord of MisruleFilm: Shirley
  25. 1996Dennis the Menace and GnasherSeries: Mrs. Duffel (1 episode)
  26. 1996Dalziel and PascoeSeries: Edith Disney (1 episode)
  27. 1996Silent WitnessSeries: Anne Parker (2 episodes)
  28. 1995The World of Lee EvansSeries: Mother (1 episode)
  29. 1995Look at the State We're In!Series: Storyteller (1 episode)
  30. 1995An Awfully Big AdventureFilm: Rose
  31. 1995Signs and WondersSeries: Elizabeth Palmore (4 episodes)
  32. 1994Second BestFilm: Margery
  33. 1994WolfFilm: Maude Waggins
  34. 1994Fair GameFilm: Marjorie
  35. 1994The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy FisherFilm: Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
  36. 1994The Rector's WifeSeries: Marjorie Richardson (4 episodes)
  37. 1992Freddie As F.R.O.7.Film: Queen (voice)
  38. 1992My Friend WalterFilm: Aunt Ellie
  39. 1992Howards EndFilm: Aunt Juley
  40. 1991A Question of AttributionFilm: H.M.Q.
  41. 1990The Tale of Little Pig RobinsonFilm: Fleecy Flock
  42. 1990Dirty BeastsFilm: Narrator
  43. 1990Revolting RhymesFilm: Narrator
  44. 1989Screen OneSeries: H.M.Q. (1 episode)
  45. 1989Beyond The PaleFilm: Milly
  46. 1989A Chorus of DisapprovalFilm: Hannah Ap Llewellyn
  47. 1989Bosses From HellFilm
  48. 1989Communicators From HellFilm
  49. 1988ThompsonSeries (1 episode)
  50. 1988Natural CausesFilm: Celia Bryce
  51. 1988Consuming PassionsFilm: Ethel
  52. 1988After HenrySeries: Sarah France (38 episodes)
  53. 1987When We Are MarriedFilm: Annie Parker
  54. 1987The Lonely Passion of Judith HearneFilm: Moira O'Neill
  55. 1987What the Butler SawFilm: Mrs Prentice
  56. 1986Home CookingFilm: Judith
  57. 1986Unnatural CausesSeries: Judith (1 episode)
  58. 1986CasualtySeries: Jocelyn Anderson (1 episode)
  59. 1986ScreenPlaySeries: Milly (1 episode)
  60. 1985Theatre NightSeries: Mrs. Prentice (1 episode)
  61. 1985Mapp & LuciaSeries: Miss Elizabeth Mapp (10 episodes)
  62. 1985Absurd Person SingularFilm: Marion Brewster-Wright
  63. 1984Weekend PlayhouseSeries: Olive Dodd (1 episode)
  64. 1984Slimming DownFilm: Mrs. Shrigley
  65. 1983The Wicked LadyFilm: Lady Kingsclere
  66. 1983SinglesFilm: Gail
  67. 1982The Merry Wives of WindsorFilm: Mistress Page
  68. 1982Outside EdgeFilm: Miriam
  69. 1982S.W.A.L.K.Series: Patti (6 episodes)
  70. 1981BergeracSeries: Gloria Gibbins (1 episode)
  71. 1981Never the TwainSeries: Susan Peel (1 episode)
  72. 1978Doris and DoreenFilm: Doris Rutter
  73. 1978The BBC Television ShakespeareSeries: Mistress Page (1 episode)
  74. 1978The Boys from BrazilFilm: Mrs. Harrington
  75. 1978The Hound of the BaskervillesFilm: Glynis
  76. 1978Pickersgill PeopleSeries: Mavis Blackhead (1 episode)
  77. 1977TargetSeries: Diana Blake (1 episode)
  78. 1977The Achurch LettersFilm: Florence Farr
  79. 1977Mr. BigSeries: Dolly (13 episodes)
  80. 1976The Littlest Horse ThievesFilm: Mrs. Sandman

Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.