Person

Prunella Scales

Acting · 1932–2025 · 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.

• 

  Midsomer Murders

  Eleanor Bunsall

• 

  Silent Witness

  Anne Parker

• 

  Loose Women

  Self

• 

  Casualty

  Jocelyn Anderson

• 

  Agatha Christie's Marple

  Mrs Mackenzie

• 

  Playhouse

  Florence Farr

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  BBC Play of the Month

  Queen Jemima

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  Bergerac

  Gloria Gibbins

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  Thirty-Minute Theatre

  Marie

• Film '72

  Self

• 2025The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
• 201450 Years of BBC Two ComedySelf
• 2014Great Canal JourneysSelf
• 2014Sub RosaMadame
• 2013The Phone CallJoan
• 2012Run For Your WifeWoman in Pub
• 2011Horrid Henry: The MovieGreat Aunt Greta
• 2009Fawlty Towers: Re-OpenedSelf / Sybil Fawlty
• 2007The Shell SeekersDolly Keeling
• 2007ThinkCustomer
• 2007What the Pythons Did Next...Self
• 2006Mr. Loveday's Little OutingLady Moping
• 2005Fawlty Towers RevisitedHerself
• 2005The Funny Blokes of British ComedySybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
• 2004Agatha Christie's MarpleMrs Mackenzie
• 2003Looking for VictoriaSelf / Victoria
• 2003The RoyalRed Admiral
• 2002DickensElizabeth Dickens
• 2002A Day In The Death Of Joe EggGrace
• 2001Station JimQueen Victoria
• 2000The Ghost of Greville LodgeSarah
• 1999Mad CowsDr. Minny Stinkler
• 1999Loose WomenSelf
• 1999An Ideal HusbandLady Markby
• 1998Stiff Upper LipsAunt Agnes
• 1997Keeping MumMarjorie
• 1997An Audience with Alf Garnett
• 1997Midsomer MurdersEleanor Bunsall
• 1996EmmaMiss Bates
• 1996Breaking the CodeSara Turing
• 1996Lord of MisruleShirley
• 1996Dennis the Menace and GnasherMrs. Duffel
• 1996Dalziel and PascoeEdith Disney
• 1996Silent WitnessAnne Parker
• 1995The World of Lee EvansMother
• 1995Look at the State We're In!Storyteller
• 1995An Awfully Big AdventureRose
• 1995Signs and WondersElizabeth Palmore
• 1994Second BestMargery
• 1994WolfMaude Waggins
• 1994Fair GameMarjorie
• 1994The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy FisherMrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
• 1994The Rector's WifeMarjorie Richardson
• 1992Freddie As F.R.O.7.Queen (voice)
• 1992My Friend WalterAunt Ellie
• 1992Howards EndAunt Juley
• 1991A Question of AttributionH.M.Q.
• 1990The Tale of Little Pig RobinsonFleecy Flock
• 1990Dirty BeastsNarrator
• 1990Revolting RhymesNarrator
• 1989Screen OneH.M.Q.
• 1989Beyond The PaleMilly
• 1989A Chorus of DisapprovalHannah Ap Llewellyn
• 1989Bosses From Hell
• 1989Communicators From Hell
• 1988Thompson
• 1988Natural CausesCelia Bryce
• 1988Consuming PassionsEthel
• 1988After HenrySarah France
• 1987When We Are MarriedAnnie Parker
• 1987The Lonely Passion of Judith HearneMoira O'Neill
• 1987What the Butler SawMrs Prentice
• 1986Home CookingJudith
• 1986Unnatural CausesJudith
• 1986CasualtyJocelyn Anderson
• 1986ScreenPlayMilly
• 1985Theatre NightMrs. Prentice
• 1985Mapp & LuciaMiss Elizabeth Mapp
• 1985Absurd Person SingularMarion Brewster-Wright
• 1984Weekend PlayhouseOlive Dodd
• 1984Slimming DownMrs. Shrigley
• 1983The Wicked LadyLady Kingsclere
• 1983SinglesGail
• 1982The Merry Wives of WindsorMistress Page
• 1982Outside EdgeMiriam
• 1981BergeracGloria Gibbins
• 1981Never the TwainSusan Peel
• 1978Doris and DoreenDoris Rutter
• 1978The BBC Television ShakespeareMistress Page
• 1978The Boys from BrazilMrs. Harrington
• 1978The Hound of the BaskervillesGlynis
• 1978An Audience with...Self
• 1977TargetDiana Blake
• 1977The Achurch LettersFlorence Farr
• 1976The Littlest Horse ThievesMrs. Sandman
• 1975Fawlty TowersSybil Fawlty
• 1975The Apple CartQueen Jemima
• 1974PlayhouseFlorence Farr
• 1973Seven of OneMarion Joyce
• 1973The Ring of TruthBabs Pickard
• 1972Country MattersBabs Pickard
• 1971Film '72Self
• 1965BBC Play of the MonthQueen Jemima
• 1965Thirty-Minute TheatreMarie
• 1962Waltz of the ToreadorsEstella Fitzjohn
• 1961Faces of JimLaura Morrell
• 1961Marriage LinesKate Starling
• 1958Room at the TopCouncil Office Worker (uncredited)
• 1954The Crowded DayCustomer
• 1954What Every Woman WantsMary
• 1954Hobson's ChoiceVicky Hobson
• 1953Laxdale HallMorag McLeod
• 1952Pride and PrejudiceLydia Bennet