Penny Downie

Acting

Penny Downie

Born 1 January 1954 · Queensland, Australia · 72

Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. From 2017 until 2021 she played Ellen in the British TV sitcom Back. She plays the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning in the 2023 Netflix political thriller series The Diplomat.

Known for

Highlights

The Crown2016 · Series · Duchess of Gloucester
Invictus2009 · Film · Mrs. Pienaar
Downton Abbey2010 · Series · Lady Sinderby
London Has Fallen2016 · Film · Home Secretary Rose Kenter
Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · Series · Frances Cloade
Jackie2016 · Film · Janet Lee

Filmography

Movies

21 films

The Jester from Transylvania2024 · Film · Mrs. Pennington
Breathe2017 · Film · Tid
Jackie2016 · Film · Janet Lee
London Has Fallen2016 · Film · Home Secretary Rose Kenter
W.E.2011 · Film · Dr. Vargas
Hamlet2009 · Film · Gertrude
Invictus2009 · Film · Mrs. Pienaar
The Girl in the Café2005 · Film · Ruth
Falling2005 · Film · Hazel Kent
Murder in Rome2005 · Film · Caecilia
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking2004 · Film · Judith Massingham
Byron2003 · Film · Lady Judith Milbanke
The House of Mirth2000 · Film · Judy Trenor
Lost for Words1999 · Film · Aileen Longden
Crime and Punishment1998 · Film · Katerina
Food of Love1997 · Film · Mary
Paradise1994 · Film · Linda
Ex1991 · Film · Sheila
Lionheart1987 · Film · Madelaine
Wetherby1985 · Film · Chrissie
Crosstalk1982 · Film · Cindy

Filmography

Series

34 shows

The Diplomat2023 · Series · Frances Munning
The Chelsea Detective2022 · Series · Hilary Carmichael
Whitstable Pearl2021 · Series · Izzy
Absentia2017 · Series · Valerie Chandris
Back2017 · Series · Ellen
The Crown2016 · Series · Duchess of Gloucester
Houdini & Doyle2016 · Series · Mrs. Sulzbach
Siblings2014 · Series · Dr Barker
Father Brown2013 · Series · Rev. Mother Augustine
Ripper Street2012 · Series · Flora Gable
Vera2011 · Series · Veronica
Silk2011 · Series · Helen Guthrie
Downton Abbey2010 · Series · Lady Sinderby
New Street Law2006 · Series · Honor Scammel
All About George2005 · Series · Evelyn
Murder in Suburbia2004 · Series · Zenith
Trust2003 · Series · Anita Matteo
Byron2003 · Series · Lady Judith Milbanke
Spooks2002 · Series · Prosecution QC
The Cazalets2001 · Series · Sid
Waking the Dead2001 · Series · Bonnie Yorke
A Certain Justice1998 · Series · Venetia Aldridge
The Ice House1997 · Series · Phoebe Maybury
Madson1996 · Series · Anderton
Kavanagh Q.C.1995 · Series · Mrs. Rosalind McEnery
Underbelly1992 · Series · Barbara Manning
Stanley and the Women1991 · Series · Susan Duke
Screen One1989 · Series · Sheila
Agatha Christie's Poirot1989 · Series · Frances Cloade
A Taste for Death1988 · Series · Kate Miskin
Inspector Morse1987 · Series · Nurse Wendy Hazlitt
Dalgliesh1983 · Series · Kate Miskin
Timewatch1982 · Series · Caecilia
Minder1979 · Series · Dee Rogers