Prunella Scales
Jun 22, 1932 - Oct 27, 2025 (93 years old) in 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
Midsomer Murders
Eleanor Bunsall
Silent Witness
Anne Parker
Agatha Christie's Marple
Mrs Mackenzie
Casualty
Jocelyn Anderson
Bergerac
Gloria Gibbins
BBC Play of the Month
Queen Jemima
Howards End
Aunt Juley
Wolf
Maude Waggins
Emma
Miss Bates
Second Best
Margery
Credits
-
★ NR -
Self★ 8 -
Great Canal Journeys 2014Self★ 8.8 -
Sub Rosa 2014Madame★ 5 -
The Phone Call 2013Joan★ 7.3 -
Run For Your Wife 2012Woman in Pub★ 4.4 -
Great Aunt Greta★ 5.2 -
Self / Sybil Fawlty★ 8 -
The Shell Seekers 2007Dolly Keeling★ 6.9 -
Self★ NR -
Lady Moping★ NR -
Herself★ 5 -
Mrs Mackenzie★ 7.8 -
The Royal 2003Red Admiral★ 7.6 -
Dickens 2002Elizabeth Dickens★ NR -
Grace★ NR -
Station Jim 2001Queen Victoria★ 7
-
★ 6 -
Mad Cows 1999Dr. Minny Stinkler★ 3.4 -
An Ideal Husband 1999Lady Markby★ 6.4 -
Stiff Upper Lips 1998Aunt Agnes★ 5.2 -
Keeping Mum 1997Marjorie★ NR -
★ NR -
Midsomer Murders 1997Eleanor Bunsall★ 7.5 -
Emma 1996Miss Bates★ 6.6 -
Breaking the Code 1996Sara Turing★ 5.1 -
Lord of Misrule 1996Shirley★ NR
-
Mrs. Duffel★ 6.2 -
Dalziel & Pascoe 1996★ 6.3 -
Silent Witness 1996Anne Parker★ 7.5 -
Mother★ 6.3 -
Storyteller★ NR
-
Rose★ 6.5 -
Signs and Wonders 1995Elizabeth Palmore★ NR -
Second Best 1994Margery★ 6.7 -
Wolf 1994Maude Waggins★ 6.1 -
Fair Game 1994Marjorie★ 3.8 -
The Rector's Wife 1994Marjorie Richardson★ 8 -
Freddie As F.R.O.7. 1992Queen (voice)★ 5.2 -
My Friend Walter 1992Aunt Ellie★ NR -
Howards End 1992Aunt Juley★ 7 -
H.M.Q.★ 6.6 -
Fleecy Flock★ NR -
Dirty Beasts 1990Narrator★ NR -
Revolting Rhymes 1990Narrator★ NR -
Beyond The Pale 1989Milly★ NR -
Hannah Ap Llewellyn★ 5.3 -
Bosses From Hell 1989★ NR -
★ NR -
Thompson 1988★ 1
-
Natural Causes 1988Celia Bryce★ NR -
Consuming Passions 1988Ethel★ 8 -
After Henry 1988Sarah France★ 5.7 -
When We Are Married 1987Annie Parker★ NR -
Moira O'Neill★ 6.5 -
What the Butler Saw 1987Mrs Prentice★ 1 -
Home Cooking 1986Judith★ NR -
Unnatural Causes 1986Judith★ 5.5
-
Casualty 1986Jocelyn Anderson★ 6.1 -
Theatre Night 1985Mrs. Prentice★ NR
-
Mapp & Lucia 1985★ 6 -
Marion Brewster-Wright★ 8 -
Slimming Down 1984Mrs. Shrigley★ NR -
The Wicked Lady 1983Lady Kingsclere★ 4.8 -
Singles 1983Gail★ 6
-
Mistress Page★ 8 -
Outside Edge 1982Miriam★ 6 -
Bergerac 1981Gloria Gibbins★ 6.7 -
Never the Twain 1981Susan Peel★ 6.6 -
Doris and Doreen 1978Doris Rutter★ 6 -
The Boys from Brazil 1978Mrs. Harrington★ 6.7 -
Glynis★ 4.3 -
Target 1977Diana Blake★ 6.3 -
The Achurch Letters 1977Florence Farr★ NR -
Lucky Feller 1976★ 7.2 -
Mrs. Sandman★ 6.8 -
Fawlty Towers 1975Sybil Fawlty★ 8.3 -
The Apple Cart 1975Queen Jemima★ NR
-
Playhouse 1974Florence Farr★ 7 -
Seven of One 1973★ 7 -
Queen Jemima★ 5 -
Marie★ 3.4 -
Estella Fitzjohn★ 4.8 -
Marriage Lines 1961★ 5.5 -
Room at the Top 1958Council Office Worker (uncredited)★ 6.9 -
The Crowded Day 1954Customer★ 5.4 -
Mary★ 6.3 -
Hobson's Choice 1954Vicky Hobson★ 7.4 -
Laxdale Hall 1953Morag McLeod★ 6
-
Pride and Prejudice 1952Lydia Bennet★ NR
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