Prunella Scales

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 (nΓ©e 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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Known For

Wolf
Wolf

1994

as Maude Waggins

Howards End
Howards End

1992

as Aunt Juley

Emma
Emma

1996

as Miss Bates

The Boys from Brazil
The Boys from Brazil

1978

as Mrs. Harrington

Horrid Henry: The Movie
Horrid Henry: The Movie

2011

as Great Aunt Greta

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Station Jim

2001

as Queen Victoria

Fair Game
Fair Game

1994

as Marjorie

Hobson's Choice
Hobson's Choice

1954

as Vicky Hobson

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The Funny Blokes of British Comedy

2005

as Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)

Sub Rosa
Sub Rosa

2014

as Madame

Dirty Beasts
Dirty Beasts

1990

as Narrator

The Wicked Lady
The Wicked Lady

1983

as Lady Kingsclere

The Merry Wives of Windsor
The Merry Wives of Windsor

1982

as Mistress Page

Room at the Top
Room at the Top

1958

as Council Office Worker (uncredited)

Doris and Doreen
Doris and Doreen

1978

as Doris Rutter

Mad Cows
Mad Cows

1999

as Dr. Minny Stinkler

The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne
Consuming Passions
Consuming Passions

1988

as Ethel

50 Years of BBC Two Comedy