Prunella Scales

Acting

Prunella Scales

Born 22 June 1932 · Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK · Died 27 October 2025 at 93

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

Highlights

Fawlty Towers1975 · Series · Sybil Fawlty
Howards End1992 · Film · Aunt Juley
Midsomer Murders1997 · Series · Eleanor Bunsall
Wolf1994 · Film · Maude Waggins
The Boys from Brazil1978 · Film · Mrs. Harrington
Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · Series · Mrs Mackenzie

Filmography

Movies

51 films

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers2025 · Film
Sub Rosa2014 · Film · Madame
The Phone Call2013 · Film · Joan
Run For Your Wife2012 · Film · Woman in Pub
Horrid Henry: The Movie2011 · Film · Great Aunt Greta
The Shell Seekers2007 · Film · Dolly Keeling
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing2006 · Film · Lady Moping
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg2002 · Film · Grace
Station Jim2001 · Film · Queen Victoria
The Ghost of Greville Lodge2000 · Film · Sarah
Mad Cows1999 · Film · Dr. Minny Stinkler
An Ideal Husband1999 · Film · Lady Markby
Stiff Upper Lips1998 · Film · Aunt Agnes
An Audience with Alf Garnett1997 · Film
Emma1996 · Film · Miss Bates
Breaking the Code1996 · Film · Sara Turing
An Awfully Big Adventure1995 · Film · Rose
Second Best1994 · Film · Margery
Wolf1994 · Film · Maude Waggins
Fair Game1994 · Film · Marjorie
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher1994 · Film · Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
Freddie As F.R.O.7.1992 · Film · Queen (voice)
My Friend Walter1992 · Film · Aunt Ellie
Howards End1992 · Film · Aunt Juley
A Question of Attribution1991 · Film · H.M.Q.
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson1990 · Film · Fleecy Flock
Beyond The Pale1989 · Film · Milly
A Chorus of Disapproval1989 · Film · Hannah Ap Llewellyn
Bosses From Hell1989 · Film
Communicators From Hell1989 · Film
Natural Causes1988 · Film · Celia Bryce
Consuming Passions1988 · Film · Ethel
When We Are Married1987 · Film · Annie Parker
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne1987 · Film · Moira O'Neill
What the Butler Saw1987 · Film · Mrs Prentice
Home Cooking1986 · Film · Judith
Absurd Person Singular1985 · Film · Marion Brewster-Wright
Slimming Down1984 · Film · Mrs. Shrigley
The Wicked Lady1983 · Film · Lady Kingsclere
The Merry Wives of Windsor1982 · Film · Mistress Page
Outside Edge1982 · Film · Miriam
Doris and Doreen1978 · Film · Doris Rutter
The Boys from Brazil1978 · Film · Mrs. Harrington
The Hound of the Baskervilles1978 · Film · Glynis
The Achurch Letters1977 · Film · Florence Farr
The Littlest Horse Thieves1976 · Film · Mrs. Sandman
Waltz of the Toreadors1962 · Film · Estella Fitzjohn
Room at the Top1958 · Film · Council Office Worker (uncredited)
The Crowded Day1954 · Film · Customer
What Every Woman Wants1954 · Film · Mary
Hobson's Choice1954 · Film · Vicky Hobson

Filmography

Series

31 shows

Agatha Christie's Marple2004 · Series · Mrs Mackenzie
The Royal2003 · Series · Red Admiral
Dickens2002 · Series · Elizabeth Dickens
Keeping Mum1997 · Series · Marjorie
Midsomer Murders1997 · Series · Eleanor Bunsall
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher1996 · Series · Mrs. Duffel
Dalziel and Pascoe1996 · Series · Edith Disney
Silent Witness1996 · Series · Anne Parker
The World of Lee Evans1995 · Series · Mother
Signs and Wonders1995 · Series · Elizabeth Palmore
The Rector's Wife1994 · Series · Marjorie Richardson
Screen One1989 · Series · H.M.Q.
After Henry1988 · Series · Sarah France
Unnatural Causes1986 · Series · Judith
Casualty1986 · Series · Jocelyn Anderson
ScreenPlay1986 · Series · Milly
Theatre Night1985 · Series · Mrs. Prentice
Mapp & Lucia1985 · Series · Miss Elizabeth Mapp
Bergerac1981 · Series · Gloria Gibbins
Never the Twain1981 · Series · Susan Peel
The BBC Television Shakespeare1978 · Series · Mistress Page
Pickersgill People1978 · Series · Mavis Blackhead
Target1977 · Series · Diana Blake
Fawlty Towers1975 · Series · Sybil Fawlty
Playhouse1974 · Series · Florence Farr
Seven of One1973 · Series · Marion Joyce
Country Matters1972 · Series · Babs Pickard
BBC Play of the Month1965 · Series · Queen Jemima
Thirty-Minute Theatre1965 · Series · Marie
Marriage Lines1961 · Series · Kate Starling
Pride and Prejudice1952 · Series · Lydia Bennet