Prunella Scales
ActingBorn Jun 22, 1932Died Oct 27, 2025
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 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
The Rector's Wife
tv1994
Pride and Prejudice
tv1952
Great Canal Journeys
tv2014
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
movie2009
Consuming Passions
movie1988
Absurd Person Singular
movie1985
Fawlty Towers
tv1975
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
movie2014
Natural Causes
movie1988
Outside Edge
movie1982
The Merry Wives of Windsor
movie1982
The Royal
tv2003
Filmography
2025The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towersmovie201450 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Selfmovie2014Great Canal Journeysas Selftv2014Sub Rosaas Madamemovie2013The Phone Callas Joanmovie2012Run For Your Wifeas Woman in Pubmovie2011Horrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Gretamovie2009Fawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawltymovie2007The Shell Seekersas Dolly Keelingmovie2007Thinkas Customermovie2007What the Pythons Did Next...as Selfmovie2006Mr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Mopingmovie2005Fawlty Towers Revisitedas Herselfmovie2005The Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)movie2004Agatha Christie's Marpleas Mrs Mackenzietv2003The Royalas Red Admiraltv2002Dickensas Elizabeth Dickenstv2002A Day In The Death Of Joe Eggas Gracemovie2001Station Jimas Queen Victoriamovie2000The Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarahmovie1999Mad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinklermovie1999Loose Womenas Selftv1999An Ideal Husbandas Lady Markbymovie1998Stiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnesmovie1997Keeping Mumas Marjorietv1997An Audience with Alf Garnettmovie1997Midsomer Murdersas Eleanor Bunsalltv1996Emmaas Miss Batesmovie1996Breaking the Codeas Sara Turingmovie1996Lord of Misruleas Shirleymovie1996Dennis the Menace and Gnasheras Mrs. Duffeltv1996Dalziel & Pascoetv1996Silent Witnessas Anne Parkertv1995The World of Lee Evansas Mothertv1995Look at the State We're In!as Storytellertv1995An Awfully Big Adventureas Rosemovie1995Signs and Wondersas Elizabeth Palmoretv1994Second Bestas Margerymovie1994Wolfas Maude Wagginsmovie1994Fair Gameas Marjoriemovie1994The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisheras Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)movie1994The Rector's Wifeas Marjorie Richardsontv1992Freddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)movie1992My Friend Walteras Aunt Elliemovie1992Howards Endas Aunt Juleymovie1991A Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.movie1990The Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flockmovie1990Dirty Beastsas Narratormovie1990Revolting Rhymesas Narratormovie1989Beyond The Paleas Millymovie1989A Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellynmovie1989Bosses From Hellmovie1989Communicators From Hellmovie1988Thompsontv1988Natural Causesas Celia Brycemovie1988Consuming Passionsas Ethelmovie1988After Henryas Sarah Francetv1987When We Are Marriedas Annie Parkermovie1987The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearneas Moira O'Neillmovie1987What the Butler Sawas Mrs Prenticemovie1986Home Cookingas Judithmovie1986Unnatural Causesas Judithtv1986Casualtyas Jocelyn Andersontv1985Theatre Nightas Mrs. Prenticetv1985Mapp & Luciaas Miss Elizabeth Mapptv1985Absurd Person Singularas Marion Brewster-Wrightmovie1984Slimming Downas Mrs. Shrigleymovie1983The Wicked Ladyas Lady Kingscleremovie1983Singlesas Gailmovie1982The Merry Wives of Windsoras Mistress Pagemovie1982Outside Edgeas Miriammovie1981Bergeracas Gloria Gibbinstv1981Never the Twainas Susan Peeltv1978Doris and Doreenas Doris Ruttermovie1978The Boys from Brazilas Mrs. Harringtonmovie1978The Hound of the Baskervillesas Glynismovie1978An Audience with...as Selftv1977Targetas Diana Blaketv1977The Achurch Lettersas Florence Farrmovie1976Lucky Fellertv