Prunella Scales
Known for
Acting
Life
1932 – 2025 (aged 93)
Born in
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK
Credits
View on IMDb97 acting credits
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
Wolf
17 Jun 1994
Fawlty Towers
19 Sep 1975
Howards End
13 Mar 1992
The Boys from Brazil
05 Oct 1978
Midsomer Murders
23 Mar 1997
Hobson's Choice
19 Apr 1954
Agatha Christie's Marple
12 Dec 2004
Room at the Top
29 Dec 1958
Photos
Filmography
2014
- Sub Rosaas Madame
2013
- The Phone Callas Joan
2012
- Run For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub
2011
- Horrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta
2007
- The Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling
- Thinkas Customer
2006
- Mr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping
2005
- The Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
- Agatha Christie's Marpleas Mrs Mackenzie1 episode
2003
- The Royalas Red Admiral1 episode
2002
- Dickensas Elizabeth Dickens1 episode
- A Day in the Death of Joe Eggas Grace
2001
- Station Jimas Queen Victoria
2000
- The Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah
1999
- Mad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler
- An Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby
1998
- Stiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes
1997
- Keeping Mumas Marjorie1 episode
- An Audience with Alf Garnett
- Midsomer Murdersas Eleanor Bunsall1 episode
1996
- Emmaas Miss Bates
- Breaking the Codeas Sara Turing
- Lord of Misruleas Shirley
- Dennis the Menace and Gnasheras Mrs. Duffel1 episode
- Dalziel and Pascoeas Edith Disney1 episode
- Silent Witnessas Anne Parker2 episodes
1995
- The World of Lee Evansas Mother1 episode
- Look at the State We're In!as Storyteller1 episode
- An Awfully Big Adventureas Rose
- Signs and Wondersas Elizabeth Palmore4 episodes
1994
- Second Bestas Margery
- Wolfas Maude Waggins
- Fair Gameas Marjorie
- The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisheras Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
- The Rector's Wifeas Marjorie Richardson4 episodes
1992
- Freddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)
- My Friend Walteras Aunt Ellie
- Howards Endas Aunt Juley
1991
- A Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.
1990
- The Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flock
- Dirty Beastsas Narrator
- Revolting Rhymesas Narrator
1989
- Screen Oneas H.M.Q.1 episode
- Beyond The Paleas Milly
- A Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellyn
- Bosses From Hell
- Communicators From Hell
1988
- Thompson1 episode
- Natural Causesas Celia Bryce
- Consuming Passionsas Ethel
- After Henryas Sarah France38 episodes
1987
- When We Are Marriedas Annie Parker
- The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearneas Moira O'Neill
- What the Butler Sawas Mrs Prentice
1986
- Home Cookingas Judith
- Unnatural Causesas Judith1 episode
- Casualtyas Jocelyn Anderson1 episode
- ScreenPlayas Milly1 episode
1985
- Theatre Nightas Mrs. Prentice1 episode
- Mapp & Luciaas Miss Elizabeth Mapp10 episodes
- Absurd Person Singularas Marion Brewster-Wright
1984
- Weekend Playhouseas Olive Dodd1 episode
- Slimming Downas Mrs. Shrigley
1983
- The Wicked Ladyas Lady Kingsclere
- Singlesas Gail
1982
- The Merry Wives of Windsoras Mistress Page
- Outside Edgeas Miriam
- S.W.A.L.K.as Patti6 episodes
1981
- Bergeracas Gloria Gibbins1 episode
- Never the Twainas Susan Peel1 episode
1978
- Doris and Doreenas Doris Rutter
- The BBC Television Shakespeareas Mistress Page1 episode
- The Boys from Brazilas Mrs. Harrington
- The Hound of the Baskervillesas Glynis
- Pickersgill Peopleas Mavis Blackhead1 episode
1977
- Targetas Diana Blake1 episode
- The Achurch Lettersas Florence Farr
- Mr. Bigas Dolly13 episodes
1976
- The Littlest Horse Thievesas Mrs. Sandman
1975
- Fawlty Towersas Sybil Fawlty12 episodes
- The Apple Cartas Queen Jemima
1974
- Playhouseas Florence Farr1 episode
1973
- Seven of Oneas Marion Joyce1 episode
- The Ring of Truthas Babs Pickard
1972
- Country Mattersas Babs Pickard1 episode
1965
- BBC Play of the Monthas Queen Jemima1 episode
- Thirty-Minute Theatreas Marie1 episode
1962
- Waltz of the Toreadorsas Estella Fitzjohn
1961
- Faces of Jimas Laura Morrell1 episode
- Marriage Linesas Kate Starling43 episodes
1958
- Room at the Topas Council Office Worker (uncredited)
1954
- The Crowded Dayas Customer
- What Every Woman Wantsas Mary
- Hobson's Choiceas Vicky Hobson
1953
- Laxdale Hallas Morag McLeod
1952
- Pride and Prejudiceas Lydia Bennet4 episodes