Prunella Scales
Acting
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.
Notable Works
Prominent titles featuring Prunella Scales
Howards End
1992
Filmography
Acting (64)
2014
50 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Self
8.0
2014
Sub Rosaas Madame
5.0
2013
The Phone Callas Joan
7.3
2012
Run For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub
4.4
2011
Horrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta
5.2
2009
Fawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawlty
8.4
2007
The Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling
6.9
2007
Thinkas Customer
2007
What the Pythons Did Next...as Self
2006
Mr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping
2005
Fawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself
7.5
2005
The Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
6.5
2002
A Day in the Death of Joe Eggas Grace
2001
Station Jimas Queen Victoria
7.5
2000
The Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah
7.0
1999
Mad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler
4.4
1999
An Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby
6.5
1998
Stiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes
5.6
1996
Emmaas Miss Bates
6.6
1996
Breaking the Codeas Sara Turing
5.6
1996
Lord of Misruleas Shirley
9.0
1995
An Awfully Big Adventureas Rose
6.5
1994
Second Bestas Margery
6.7
1994
Wolfas Maude Waggins
6.1
1994
Fair Gameas Marjorie
5.0
1994
The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisheras Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
1992
Freddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)
5.2
1992
My Friend Walteras Aunt Ellie
7.0
1992
Howards Endas Aunt Juley
7.0
1991
A Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.
6.8
1990
The Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flock
1990
Dirty Beastsas Narrator
8.0
1990
Revolting Rhymesas Narrator
8.0
1989
Beyond The Paleas Milly
7.0
1989
A Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellyn
5.4
1989
1988
Natural Causesas Celia Bryce
8.0
1988
Consuming Passionsas Ethel
8.3
1987
When We Are Marriedas Annie Parker
7.0
1987
The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearneas Moira O'Neill
6.6
1987
What the Butler Sawas Mrs Prentice
3.0
1986
Home Cookingas Judith
1985
Absurd Person Singularas Marion Brewster-Wright
8.3
1984
Slimming Downas Mrs. Shrigley
1983
The Wicked Ladyas Lady Kingsclere
4.9
1983
Singlesas Gail
6.0
1982
The Merry Wives of Windsoras Mistress Page
8.0
1982
Outside Edgeas Miriam
8.0
1978
Doris and Doreenas Doris Rutter
6.5
1978
The Boys from Brazilas Mrs. Harrington
6.7
1978
The Hound of the Baskervillesas Glynis
4.4
1977
The Achurch Lettersas Florence Farr
1976
The Littlest Horse Thievesas Mrs. Sandman
6.9
1975
The Apple Cartas Queen Jemima
1973
The Ring of Truthas Babs Pickard
1962
Waltz of the Toreadorsas Estella Fitzjohn
5.0
1958
Room at the Topas Council Office Worker (uncredited)
6.9
1954
The Crowded Dayas Customer
5.8
1954
What Every Woman Wantsas Mary
6.6
1954
Hobson's Choiceas Vicky Hobson
7.4
1953
Laxdale Hallas Morag McLeod
7.0