Prunella Scales
Known for
Acting
Born
June 22, 1932
Birthplace
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK
Died
October 27, 2025 (aged 93)
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.
Best known work
Wolf
1994
Fawlty Towers
1975
Howards End
1992
The Boys from Brazil
1978
Midsomer Murders
1997
Hobson's Choice
1954
Agatha Christie's Marple
2004
Room at the Top
1958
Emma
1996
Silent Witness
1996Filmography
2025
2014
50 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Self
2014
2014
Sub Rosaas Madame
2013
The Phone Callas Joan
2012
Run For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub
2011
Horrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta
2009
Fawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawlty
2007
The Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling
2007
Thinkas Customer
2007
What the Pythons Did Next...as Self
2006
Mr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping
2005
Fawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself
2005
The Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)
2004
2003
2003
2002
2002
A Day in the Death of Joe Eggas Grace
2001
Station Jimas Queen Victoria
2000
The Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah
1999
Mad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler
1999
1999
An Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby
1998
Stiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes