Person file · Acting
Prunella Scales
Born 1932-06-22Sutton 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.
Screen work
Movies & roles
The Cancellation Of Fawlty TowersRole50 Years of BBC Two ComedySelfSub RosaMadameThe Phone CallJoanRun For Your WifeWoman in PubHorrid Henry: The MovieGreat Aunt GretaFawlty Towers: Re-OpenedSelf / Sybil FawltyThe Shell SeekersDolly KeelingThinkCustomerWhat the Pythons Did Next...SelfMr. Loveday's Little OutingLady MopingFawlty Towers RevisitedHerselfThe Funny Blokes of British ComedySybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)A Day in the Death of Joe EggGraceStation JimQueen VictoriaThe Ghost of Greville LodgeSarahMad CowsDr. Minny StinklerAn Ideal HusbandLady MarkbyStiff Upper LipsAunt AgnesAn Audience with Alf GarnettRoleEmmaMiss BatesBreaking the CodeSara TuringLord of MisruleShirleyAn Awfully Big AdventureRose