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Prunella Scales

Known For
Acting

Known Credits
103

Gender
Female

Birthday
June 22, 1932 (94 years old)

Place of Birth
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK

Prunella Scales

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

Acting

2025The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towersas
201450 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Self
2014Great Canal Journeysas Self
2014Sub Rosaas Madame
2013The Phone Callas Joan
2012Run For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub
2011Horrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta
2009Fawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawlty
2007The Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling
2007Thinkas Customer
2007What the Pythons Did Next...as Self
2006Mr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping
2005Fawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself
2005The Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004Agatha Christie's Marpleas Mrs Mackenzie
2003Looking for Victoriaas Self / Victoria
2003The Royalas Red Admiral
2002Dickensas Elizabeth Dickens
2002A Day In The Death Of Joe Eggas Grace
2001Station Jimas Queen Victoria
2000The Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah
1999Mad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler
1999Loose Womenas Self
1999An Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby
1998Stiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes
1997Keeping Mumas Marjorie
1997An Audience with Alf Garnettas
1997Midsomer Murdersas Eleanor Bunsall
1996Emmaas Miss Bates
1996Breaking the Codeas Sara Turing
1996Lord of Misruleas Shirley
1996Dennis the Menace and Gnasheras Mrs. Duffel
1996Dalziel and Pascoeas Edith Disney
1996Silent Witnessas Anne Parker
1995The World of Lee Evansas Mother
1995Look at the State We're In!as Storyteller
1995An Awfully Big Adventureas Rose
1995Signs and Wondersas Elizabeth Palmore
1994Second Bestas Margery
1994Wolfas Maude Waggins
1994Fair Gameas Marjorie
1994The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisheras Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
1994The Rector's Wifeas Marjorie Richardson
1992Freddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)
1992My Friend Walteras Aunt Ellie
1992Howards Endas Aunt Juley
1991A Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.
1990The Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flock
1990Dirty Beastsas Narrator
1990Revolting Rhymesas Narrator
1989Screen Oneas H.M.Q.
1989Beyond The Paleas Milly
1989A Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellyn
1989Bosses From Hellas
1989Communicators From Hellas
1988Thompsonas
1988Natural Causesas Celia Bryce
1988Consuming Passionsas Ethel
1988After Henryas Sarah France
1987When We Are Marriedas Annie Parker
1987The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearneas Moira O'Neill
1987What the Butler Sawas Mrs Prentice
1986Home Cookingas Judith
1986Unnatural Causesas Judith
1986Casualtyas Jocelyn Anderson
1986ScreenPlayas Milly
1985Theatre Nightas Mrs. Prentice
1985Mapp & Luciaas Miss Elizabeth Mapp
1985Absurd Person Singularas Marion Brewster-Wright
1984Weekend Playhouseas Olive Dodd
1984Slimming Downas Mrs. Shrigley
1983The Wicked Ladyas Lady Kingsclere
1983Singlesas Gail
1982The Merry Wives of Windsoras Mistress Page
1982Outside Edgeas Miriam
1981Bergeracas Gloria Gibbins
1981Never the Twainas Susan Peel
1978Doris and Doreenas Doris Rutter
1978The BBC Television Shakespeareas Mistress Page
1978The Boys from Brazilas Mrs. Harrington
1978The Hound of the Baskervillesas Glynis
1978An Audience with...as Self
1977Targetas Diana Blake
1977The Achurch Lettersas Florence Farr
1976Lucky Felleras
1976The Littlest Horse Thievesas Mrs. Sandman
1975Fawlty Towersas Sybil Fawlty
1975The Apple Cartas Queen Jemima
1974Playhouseas Florence Farr
1973Seven of Oneas Marion Joyce
1973The Ring of Truthas Babs Pickard
1972Country Mattersas Babs Pickard
1965BBC Play of the Monthas Queen Jemima
1965Thirty-Minute Theatreas Marie
1962Waltz of the Toreadorsas Estella Fitzjohn
1961Faces of Jimas Laura Morrell
1961Marriage Linesas Kate Starling
1958Room at the Topas Council Office Worker (uncredited)
1954The Crowded Dayas Customer
1954What Every Woman Wantsas Mary
1954Hobson's Choiceas Vicky Hobson
1953Laxdale Hallas Morag McLeod
1952Pride and Prejudiceas Lydia Bennet

Production