Prunella Scales
Born
June 22, 1932 (age 93)
Died
October 27, 2025
Birthplace
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK

Prunella Scales

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.

Movies

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
2025
Sub Rosa
Sub Rosa
2014 ★ 5.0
Madame
The Phone Call
The Phone Call
2013 ★ 7.3
Joan
Run For Your Wife
Run For Your Wife
2012 ★ 4.4
Woman in Pub
Horrid Henry: The Movie
Horrid Henry: The Movie
2011 ★ 5.2
Great Aunt Greta
The Shell Seekers
The Shell Seekers
2007 ★ 6.9
Dolly Keeling
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing
2006
Lady Moping
A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg
A Day In The Death Of Joe Egg
2002
Grace
Station Jim
Station Jim
2001 ★ 7.0
Queen Victoria
The Ghost of Greville Lodge
The Ghost of Greville Lodge
2000 ★ 6.0
Mad Cows
Mad Cows
1999 ★ 3.4
Dr. Minny Stinkler
An Ideal Husband
An Ideal Husband
1999 ★ 6.4
Lady Markby
Stiff Upper Lips
Stiff Upper Lips
1998 ★ 5.2
Aunt Agnes
An Audience with Alf Garnett
An Audience with Alf Garnett
1997
Emma
Emma
1996 ★ 6.6
Miss Bates
Breaking the Code
Breaking the Code
1996 ★ 5.1
Sara Turing
Lord of Misrule
Lord of Misrule
1996
Shirley
An Awfully Big Adventure
An Awfully Big Adventure
1995 ★ 6.5
Rose
Second Best
Second Best
1994 ★ 6.7
Margery
Wolf
Wolf
1994 ★ 6.1
Maude Waggins
Fair Game
Fair Game
1994 ★ 3.8
Marjorie
Freddie As F.R.O.7.
Freddie As F.R.O.7.
1992 ★ 5.2
Queen (voice)
My Friend Walter
My Friend Walter
1992
Aunt Ellie
Howards End
Howards End
1992 ★ 7.0
Aunt Juley
A Question of Attribution
A Question of Attribution
1991 ★ 6.6
H.M.Q.
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
1990
Fleecy Flock
Dirty Beasts
Dirty Beasts
1990
Narrator
Revolting Rhymes
Revolting Rhymes
1990
Narrator
Beyond The Pale
Beyond The Pale
1989
Milly
A Chorus of Disapproval
A Chorus of Disapproval
1989 ★ 5.3
Hannah Ap Llewellyn
Bosses From Hell
Bosses From Hell
1989
Communicators From Hell
Communicators From Hell
1989
Natural Causes
Natural Causes
1988
Celia Bryce
Consuming Passions
Consuming Passions
1988 ★ 8.0
Ethel
When We Are Married
When We Are Married
1987
Annie Parker
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
1987 ★ 6.5
Moira O'Neill
What the Butler Saw
What the Butler Saw
1987 ★ 1.0
Mrs Prentice
Home Cooking
Home Cooking
1986
Judith
Absurd Person Singular
Absurd Person Singular
1985 ★ 8.0
Marion Brewster-Wright
Slimming Down
Slimming Down
1984
Mrs. Shrigley
The Wicked Lady
The Wicked Lady
1983 ★ 4.8
Lady Kingsclere
Singles
Singles
1983 ★ 6.0
Gail
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor
1982 ★ 8.0
Mistress Page
Outside Edge
Outside Edge
1982 ★ 6.0
Miriam
Doris and Doreen
Doris and Doreen
1978 ★ 6.0
Doris Rutter
The Boys from Brazil
The Boys from Brazil
1978 ★ 6.7
Mrs. Harrington
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles
1978 ★ 4.3
Glynis
The Achurch Letters
The Achurch Letters
1977
Florence Farr
The Littlest Horse Thieves
The Littlest Horse Thieves
1976 ★ 6.8
Mrs. Sandman
The Apple Cart
The Apple Cart
1975
Queen Jemima
Waltz of the Toreadors
Waltz of the Toreadors
1962 ★ 4.8
Estella Fitzjohn
Room at the Top
Room at the Top
1958 ★ 6.9
Council Office Worker (uncredited)
The Crowded Day
The Crowded Day
1954 ★ 5.4
Customer
What Every Woman Wants
What Every Woman Wants
1954 ★ 6.3
Mary
Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice
1954 ★ 7.4
Vicky Hobson
Laxdale Hall
Laxdale Hall
1953 ★ 6.0
Morag McLeod

TV Series