Prunella Scales

Actor

Born June 22, 1932 in Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK. Died October 27, 2025.

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.

Acting

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
Film, 2025
Sub Rosa
Film, 2014
as Madame
The Phone Call
Film, 2013
as Joan
Run For Your Wife
Film, 2012
as Woman in Pub
Horrid Henry: The Movie
Film, 2011
as Great Aunt Greta
The Shell Seekers
Film, 2007
as Dolly Keeling
Think
Film, 2007
as Customer
Mr. Loveday's Little Outing
Film, 2006
as Lady Moping
Agatha Christie's Marple
TV series, 2004
as Mrs Mackenzie
The Royal
TV series, 2003
as Red Admiral
Dickens
TV series, 2002
as Elizabeth Dickens
A Day in the Death of Joe Egg
Film, 2002
as Grace
Station Jim
Film, 2001
as Queen Victoria
The Ghost of Greville Lodge
Film, 2000
as Sarah
Mad Cows
Film, 1999
as Dr. Minny Stinkler
An Ideal Husband
Film, 1999
as Lady Markby
Stiff Upper Lips
Film, 1998
as Aunt Agnes
Keeping Mum
TV series, 1997
as Marjorie
An Audience with Alf Garnett
Film, 1997
Midsomer Murders
TV series, 1997
as Eleanor Bunsall
Emma
Film, 1996
as Miss Bates
Breaking the Code
Film, 1996
as Sara Turing
Lord of Misrule
Film, 1996
as Shirley
Dennis the Menace and Gnasher
TV series, 1996
as Mrs. Duffel
Dalziel and Pascoe
TV series, 1996
as Edith Disney
Silent Witness
TV series, 1996
as Anne Parker
Searching
TV series, 1995
as Mrs. Tilston
The World of Lee Evans
TV series, 1995
as Mother
Look at the State We're In!
TV series, 1995
as Storyteller
An Awfully Big Adventure
Film, 1995
as Rose