Prunella Scales

Person

Prunella Scales

Acting June 22, 1932

Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK

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 t…

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Known for

Popular titles

Midsomer Murders

Midsomer Murders

7.5 1997 TV Show
Wolf

Wolf

6.1 1994 Movie
Fawlty Towers

Fawlty Towers

8.3 1975 TV Show
Casualty

Casualty

6.2 1986 TV Show
Loose Women

Loose Women

3.4 1999 TV Show
Howards End

Howards End

7.0 1992 Movie
Silent Witness

Silent Witness

7.6 1996 TV Show
The Boys from Brazil

The Boys from Brazil

6.7 1978 Movie
Agatha Christie's Marple

Agatha Christie's Marple

7.8 2004 TV Show
BBC Play of the Month

BBC Play of the Month

5.2 1965 TV Show
The BBC Television Shakespeare

The BBC Television Shakespeare

6.0 1978 TV Show
Bergerac

Bergerac

7.0 1981 TV Show

Photos

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Biography

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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.

Filmography

Movies and shows, newest first

  1. 2025
    The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers

    Movie

  2. 2014
    50 Years of BBC Two Comedy

    Movie Self

  3. 2014
    Great Canal Journeys

    TV show Self

  4. 2014
    Sub Rosa

    Movie Madame

  5. 2013
    The Phone Call

    Movie Joan

  6. 2012
    Run For Your Wife

    Movie Woman in Pub

  7. 2011
    Horrid Henry: The Movie

    Movie Great Aunt Greta

  8. 2009
    Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened

    Movie Self / Sybil Fawlty

  9. 2007
    The Shell Seekers

    Movie Dolly Keeling

  10. 2007
    Think

    Movie Customer

  11. 2007
    What the Pythons Did Next...

    Movie Self

  12. 2006
    Mr. Loveday's Little Outing

    Movie Lady Moping

  13. 2005
    Fawlty Towers Revisited

    Movie Herself

  14. 2005
    The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

    Movie Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)

  15. 2004
    Agatha Christie's Marple

    TV show Mrs Mackenzie

  16. 2003
    Looking for Victoria

    TV show Self / Victoria

More credits
  1. 2003
    The Royal

    TV show Red Admiral

  2. 2002
    Dickens

    TV show Elizabeth Dickens

  3. 2002
    A Day in the Death of Joe Egg

    Movie Grace

  4. 2001
    Station Jim

    Movie Queen Victoria

  5. 2000
    The Ghost of Greville Lodge

    Movie Sarah

  6. 1999
    Mad Cows

    Movie Dr. Minny Stinkler

  7. 1999
    Loose Women

    TV show Self

  8. 1999
    An Ideal Husband

    Movie Lady Markby

  9. 1998
    Stiff Upper Lips

    Movie Aunt Agnes

  10. 1997
    Keeping Mum

    TV show Marjorie

  11. 1997
    An Audience with Alf Garnett

    Movie

  12. 1997
    Midsomer Murders

    TV show Eleanor Bunsall

  13. 1996
    Emma

    Movie Miss Bates

  14. 1996
    Breaking the Code

    Movie Sara Turing

  15. 1996
    Lord of Misrule

    Movie Shirley

  16. 1996
    Dennis the Menace and Gnasher

    TV show Mrs. Duffel

  17. 1996
    Dalziel and Pascoe

    TV show Edith Disney

  18. 1996
    Silent Witness

    TV show Anne Parker

  19. 1995
    The World of Lee Evans

    TV show Mother

  20. 1995
    Look at the State We're In!

    TV show Storyteller

  21. 1995
    An Awfully Big Adventure

    Movie Rose

  22. 1995
    Signs and Wonders

    TV show Elizabeth Palmore

  23. 1994
    Second Best

    Movie Margery

  24. 1994
    Wolf

    Movie Maude Waggins