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Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Acting·1932–2025·55 films

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.

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Filmography

Wolf
Wolf (1994)Maude Waggins
Howards End
Howards End (1992)Aunt Juley
The Boys from Brazil
The Boys from Brazil (1978)Mrs. Harrington
Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice (1954)Vicky Hobson
Room at the Top
Room at the Top (1958)Council Office Worker (uncredited)
Emma
Emma (1996)Miss Bates
Horrid Henry: The Movie
Horrid Henry: The Movie (2011)Great Aunt Greta
The Phone Call
The Phone Call (2013)Joan
An Awfully Big Adventure
An Awfully Big Adventure (1995)Rose
Second Best
Second Best (1994)Margery
Freddie As F.R.O.7.
Freddie As F.R.O.7. (1992)Queen (voice)
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)Moira O'Neill
The Hound of the Baskervilles
The Hound of the Baskervilles (1978)Glynis
A Chorus of Disapproval
A Chorus of Disapproval (1989)Hannah Ap Llewellyn
The Wicked Lady
The Wicked Lady (1983)Lady Kingsclere
Breaking the Code
Breaking the Code (1996)Sara Turing
The Littlest Horse Thieves
The Littlest Horse Thieves (1976)Mrs. Sandman
Stiff Upper Lips
Stiff Upper Lips (1998)Aunt Agnes
Waltz of the Toreadors
Waltz of the Toreadors (1962)Estella Fitzjohn
Mad Cows
Mad Cows (1999)Dr. Minny Stinkler
Run For Your Wife
Run For Your Wife (2012)Woman in Pub
A Question of Attribution
A Question of Attribution (1991)H.M.Q.
The Crowded Day
The Crowded Day (1954)Customer
An Ideal Husband
An Ideal Husband (1999)Lady Markby
The Shell Seekers
The Shell Seekers (2007)Dolly Keeling
The Ghost of Greville Lodge
The Ghost of Greville Lodge (2000)Sarah
Fair Game
Fair Game (1994)Marjorie
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened
Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened (2009)Self / Sybil Fawlty
Sub Rosa
Sub Rosa (2014)Madame
What Every Woman Wants
What Every Woman Wants (1954)Mary
The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982)Mistress Page
Absurd Person Singular
Absurd Person Singular (1985)Marion Brewster-Wright
Consuming Passions
Consuming Passions (1988)Ethel
What the Butler Saw
What the Butler Saw (1987)Mrs Prentice
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy
50 Years of BBC Two Comedy (2014)Self
Outside Edge
Outside Edge (1982)Miriam
Doris and Doreen
Doris and Doreen (1978)Doris Rutter
When We Are Married
When We Are Married (1987)Annie Parker
Natural Causes
Natural Causes (1988)Celia Bryce
My Friend Walter
My Friend Walter (1992)Aunt Ellie
Beyond The Pale
Beyond The Pale (1989)Milly
Fawlty Towers Revisited
Fawlty Towers Revisited (2005)Herself
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson
The Tale of Little Pig Robinson (1990)Fleecy Flock
Revolting Rhymes
Revolting Rhymes (1990)Narrator
Communicators From Hell
Communicators From Hell (1989)
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing (2006)Lady Moping
Dirty Beasts
Dirty Beasts (1990)Narrator
Slimming Down
Slimming Down (1984)Mrs. Shrigley
What the Pythons Did Next...
What the Pythons Did Next... (2007)Self
Bosses From Hell
Bosses From Hell (1989)
Home Cooking
Home Cooking (1986)Judith
The Achurch Letters
The Achurch Letters (1977)Florence Farr
The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers (2025)
An Audience with Alf Garnett
An Audience with Alf Garnett (1997)
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisher (1994)Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)