Nook NotesPick a film
Prunella Scales

Actor

Prunella Scales

Born June 22, 1932 in Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UKDied October 27, 202558 films

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.

Start here

The best way into Prunella Scales's work
Hobson's Choice posterFirst watchHobson's Choice19547.4as Vicky HobsonA widower refuses to let his three daughters marry in order to avoid paying settlements, so they'll just have to outsmart him.View film

Essential films

Ranked by acclaim and reach
Howards End poster7.0Howards End1992Wolf poster6.1Wolf1994The Boys from Brazil poster6.7The Boys from Brazil1978Room at the Top poster6.9Room at the Top1958Emma poster6.6Emma1996The Phone Call poster7.3The Phone Call2013An Awfully Big Adventure poster6.5An Awfully Big Adventure1995Horrid Henry: The Movie poster5.2Horrid Henry: The Movie2011

Filmography

58 films as actor
  1. 2014Sub RosaMadame
  2. 2013The Phone CallJoan
  3. 2012Run For Your WifeWoman in Pub
  4. 2011Horrid Henry: The MovieGreat Aunt Greta
  5. 2007The Shell SeekersDolly Keeling
  6. 2007ThinkCustomer
  7. 2006Mr. Loveday's Little OutingLady Moping
  8. 2002A Day in the Death of Joe EggGrace
  9. 2001Station JimQueen Victoria
  10. 2000The Ghost of Greville LodgeSarah
  11. 1999Mad CowsDr. Minny Stinkler
  12. 1999An Ideal HusbandLady Markby
  13. 1998Stiff Upper LipsAunt Agnes
  14. 1997An Audience with Alf Garnett
  15. 1996EmmaMiss Bates
  16. 1996Breaking the CodeSara Turing
  17. 1996Lord of MisruleShirley
  18. 1995An Awfully Big AdventureRose
  19. 1994Second BestMargery
  20. 1994WolfMaude Waggins
  21. 1994Fair GameMarjorie
  22. 1994The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends: The Tale of Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle and Mr. Jeremy FisherMrs. Tiggy-Winkle (voice)
  23. 1992Freddie As F.R.O.7.Queen (voice)
  24. 1992My Friend WalterAunt Ellie
  25. 1992Howards EndAunt Juley
  26. 1991A Question of AttributionH.M.Q.
  27. 1990The Tale of Little Pig RobinsonFleecy Flock
  28. 1990Dirty BeastsNarrator
  29. 1990Revolting RhymesNarrator
  30. 1989Beyond The PaleMilly
  31. 1989A Chorus of DisapprovalHannah Ap Llewellyn
  32. 1989Bosses From Hell
  33. 1989Communicators From Hell
  34. 1988Natural CausesCelia Bryce
  35. 1988Consuming PassionsEthel
  36. 1987When We Are MarriedAnnie Parker
  37. 1987The Lonely Passion of Judith HearneMoira O'Neill
  38. 1987What the Butler SawMrs Prentice
  39. 1986Home CookingJudith
  40. 1985Absurd Person SingularMarion Brewster-Wright
  41. 1984Slimming DownMrs. Shrigley
  42. 1983The Wicked LadyLady Kingsclere
  43. 1983SinglesGail
  44. 1982The Merry Wives of WindsorMistress Page
  45. 1982Outside EdgeMiriam
  46. 1978Doris and DoreenDoris Rutter
  47. 1978The Boys from BrazilMrs. Harrington
  48. 1978The Hound of the BaskervillesGlynis
  49. 1977The Achurch LettersFlorence Farr
  50. 1976The Littlest Horse ThievesMrs. Sandman
  51. 1975The Apple CartQueen Jemima
  52. 1973The Ring of TruthBabs Pickard
  53. 1962Waltz of the ToreadorsEstella Fitzjohn
  54. 1958Room at the TopCouncil Office Worker (uncredited)
  55. 1954The Crowded DayCustomer
  56. 1954What Every Woman WantsMary
  57. 1954Hobson's ChoiceVicky Hobson
  58. 1953Laxdale HallMorag McLeod