Prunella Scales

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.

Known for

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50 Years of BBC Two Comedy

2014 ⭐ 8.0

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The Phone Call

2013 ⭐ 7.3

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Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened

2009 ⭐ 8.4

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The Shell Seekers

2007 ⭐ 6.9

Career timeline

2025

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers

2025

2014

50 Years of BBC Two Comedy Notable

Self · 2014

⭐ 8.0

Sub Rosa

Madame · 2014

⭐ 5.0

2013

The Phone Call Notable

Joan · 2013

⭐ 7.3

2012

Run For Your Wife

Woman in Pub · 2012

⭐ 4.4

2011

Horrid Henry: The Movie

Great Aunt Greta · 2011

⭐ 5.2

2009

Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened Notable

Self / Sybil Fawlty · 2009

⭐ 8.4

2007

The Shell Seekers

Dolly Keeling · 2007

⭐ 6.9

What the Pythons Did Next...

Self · 2007

2006

Mr. Loveday's Little Outing

Lady Moping · 2006

2005

Fawlty Towers Revisited

Herself · 2005

⭐ 5.0

2000

The Ghost of Greville Lodge Notable

Sarah · 2000

⭐ 7.0

1999

Mad Cows

Dr. Minny Stinkler · 1999

⭐ 4.4

An Ideal Husband

Lady Markby · 1999

⭐ 6.5

1998

Stiff Upper Lips

Aunt Agnes · 1998

⭐ 5.6

1997

An Audience with Alf Garnett

1997

1996

Emma

Miss Bates · 1996

⭐ 6.6

Breaking the Code

Sara Turing · 1996

⭐ 5.5

1995

An Awfully Big Adventure

Rose · 1995

⭐ 6.5

1994

Second Best

Margery · 1994

⭐ 6.8

Wolf Notable

Maude Waggins · 1994

⭐ 6.1

Fair Game

Marjorie · 1994

⭐ 4.8

1992

Freddie As F.R.O.7.

Queen (voice) · 1992

⭐ 5.3

My Friend Walter Notable

Aunt Ellie · 1992

⭐ 7.0

Howards End Notable

Aunt Juley · 1992

⭐ 7.0

1991

A Question of Attribution

H.M.Q. · 1991

⭐ 6.8

1990

The Tale of Little Pig Robinson

Fleecy Flock · 1990

Dirty Beasts

Narrator · 1990

Revolting Rhymes

Narrator · 1990

1989

Beyond The Pale Notable

Milly · 1989

⭐ 7.0

A Chorus of Disapproval

Hannah Ap Llewellyn · 1989

⭐ 5.4

Bosses From Hell

1989

Frequently appears with

Joanna Lumley

Narrator (voice)

Ricky Gervais

Self

Eric Idle

Self

Michael Palin

Self

Terry Jones

Self

Sally Hawkins

Heather

Jim Broadbent

Stan (voice)

Edward Hogg

Daniel

Full filmography

HD

The Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers

2025

HD

50 Years of BBC Two Comedy

2014 ⭐ 8.0

HD

Sub Rosa

2014 ⭐ 5.0

HD

The Phone Call

2013 ⭐ 7.3

HD

Run For Your Wife

2012 ⭐ 4.4

HD

Horrid Henry: The Movie

2011 ⭐ 5.2

HD

Fawlty Towers: Re-Opened

2009 ⭐ 8.4

HD

The Shell Seekers

2007 ⭐ 6.9

HD

What the Pythons Did Next...

2007

HD

Mr. Loveday's Little Outing

2006

HD

Fawlty Towers Revisited

2005 ⭐ 5.0

HD

The Ghost of Greville Lodge

2000 ⭐ 7.0

HD

Mad Cows

1999 ⭐ 4.4

HD

An Ideal Husband

1999 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Stiff Upper Lips

1998 ⭐ 5.6

HD

An Audience with Alf Garnett

1997

HD

Emma

1996 ⭐ 6.6

HD

Breaking the Code

1996 ⭐ 5.5

HD

An Awfully Big Adventure

1995 ⭐ 6.5

HD

Second Best

1994 ⭐ 6.8