Prunella Scales

1932-06-22 – 2025-10-27 (age 93) Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK

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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.

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Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Prunella Scales

Known For

Howards End

Howards End

1992

as Aunt Juley

Wolf

Wolf

1994

as Maude Waggins

Emma

Emma

1996

as Miss Bates

The Merry Wives of Windsor

The Merry Wives of Windsor

1982

as Mistress Page

The Boys from Brazil

The Boys from Brazil

1978

as Mrs. Harrington

Sub Rosa

Sub Rosa

2014

as Madame

The Wicked Lady

The Wicked Lady

1983

as Lady Kingsclere

Horrid Henry: The Movie

Horrid Henry: The Movie

2011

as Great Aunt Greta

Second Best

Second Best

1994

as Margery

Hobson's Choice

Hobson's Choice

1954

as Vicky Hobson

An Awfully Big Adventure

An Awfully Big Adventure

1995

as Rose

Mad Cows

Mad Cows

1999

as Dr. Minny Stinkler

Home Cooking

Home Cooking

1986

as Judith

Fair Game

Fair Game

1994

as Marjorie

The Shell Seekers

The Shell Seekers

2007

as Dolly Keeling

Station Jim

2001

as Queen Victoria

Room at the Top

Room at the Top

1958

as Council Office Worker (uncredited)

The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

2005

as Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

1992

as Queen (voice)

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne

1987

as Moira O'Neill