7.5
Midsomer Murders
1997· TV Series
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Gender
Female
Birthday
June 22, 1932(93)
Day of Death
October 27, 2025
Place of Birth
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK
Also Known As
Prunella Margaret Rumney West ScalesPrunella Margaret Rumney Illingworthپرونلا اسکیلز
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.
Known For
6.2
Casualty
1986· TV Series
7.8
Agatha Christie's Marple
2004· TV Series
7.5
Silent Witness
1996· TV Series
6.7
Bergerac
1981· TV Series
7.0
Playhouse
1974· TV Series
5.0
BBC Play of the Month
1965· TV Series
5.3
An Audience with...
1978· TV Series
6.3
Dalziel & Pascoe
1996· TV Series
3.2
Loose Women
1999· TV Series
8.3
Fawlty Towers
1975· TV Series
6.1
Wolf
1994
Filmography
- 2025MovieThe Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers
- 2014Movie50 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Self
- 2014TVGreat Canal Journeysas Self
- 2014MovieSub Rosaas Madame
- 2013MovieThe Phone Callas Joan
- 2012MovieRun For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub
- 2011MovieHorrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta
- 2009MovieFawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawlty
- 2007MovieThe Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling
- 2007MovieWhat the Pythons Did Next...as Self
- 2006MovieMr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping
- 2005MovieFawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself
- 2004TVAgatha Christie's Marpleas Mrs Mackenzie
- 2003TVThe Royalas Red Admiral
- 2002TVDickensas Elizabeth Dickens
- 2000MovieThe Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah
- 1999MovieMad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler
- 1999TVLoose Womenas Self
- 1999MovieAn Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby
- 1998MovieStiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes
- 1997TVKeeping Mumas Marjorie
- 1997MovieAn Audience with Alf Garnett
- 1997TVMidsomer Murdersas Eleanor Bunsall
- 1996MovieEmmaas Miss Bates
- 1996MovieBreaking the Codeas Sara Turing
- 1996TVDennis the Menace and Gnasheras Mrs. Duffel
- 1996TVDalziel & Pascoe
- 1996TVSilent Witnessas Anne Parker
- 1995TVThe World of Lee Evansas Mother
- 1995MovieAn Awfully Big Adventureas Rose
- 1995TVSigns and Wondersas Elizabeth Palmore
- 1994MovieSecond Bestas Margery
- 1994MovieWolfas Maude Waggins
- 1994MovieFair Gameas Marjorie
- 1994MovieThe World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy Fisheras Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
- 1994TVThe Rector's Wifeas Marjorie Richardson
- 1992MovieFreddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)
- 1992MovieMy Friend Walteras Aunt Ellie
- 1992MovieHowards Endas Aunt Juley
- 1991MovieA Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.
- 1990MovieThe Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flock
- 1990MovieDirty Beastsas Narrator
- 1990MovieRevolting Rhymesas Narrator
- 1989MovieBeyond The Paleas Milly
- 1989MovieA Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellyn
- 1989MovieBosses From Hell
- 1989MovieCommunicators From Hell
- 1988MovieNatural Causesas Celia Bryce
- 1988MovieConsuming Passionsas Ethel
- 1988TVAfter Henryas Sarah France