
Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
June 3, 1946 (age 79)
Place of Birth
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Also Known As
Penelope Alice Wilton
Penelope Winton
Пенелопа Уилтон
페네로프 윌튼
Penelope Wilton
Biography
Dame Penelope Alice Wilton DBE (born 3 June 1946) is an English actress. She was formerly married to fellow actor Sir Ian Holm, and as she has not remarried, she retains her married style of Lady Holm.
Wilton is known for starring opposite Richard Briers in the BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989), playing Homily in The Borrowers (1992) and The Return of the Borrowers(1993), and for her role as the widowed Isobel Crawley in the ITV drama Downton Abbey (2010–2015). She also played the recurring role of Harriet Jones in Doctor Who (2005–2008) and Anne in Ricky Gervais' Netflix dark comedy After Life.
Wilton has had an extensive career on stage, receiving six Olivier Award nominations. She was nominated for Man and Superman (1981), The Secret Rapture (1988), The Deep Blue Sea(1994), John Gabriel Borkman (2008) and The Chalk Garden (2009) before winning the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Actress for Taken at Midnight. Her film appearances include Clockwise (1986), Cry Freedom (1987), Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), Calendar Girls (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Match Point (2005), Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), The Girl (2012), The BFG (2016) and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023).
Description above from the Wikipedia article Penelope Wilton, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For

TV
Doctor Who
2005

TV
Doctor Who
Harriet Jones
2005

TV
Downton Abbey
Isobel Merton
2010

TV
Play for Today
Virginia Carlion
1970

TV
BBC Play of the Month
Regan
1965

TV
An Audience with...
Self
1978

TV
Performance
Beth
1991

TV
Performance
Hester Collyer
1991

Film
Pride & Prejudice
Mrs. Gardiner
2005

TV
Kavanagh Q.C.
Barbara Watkins
1995

TV
After Life
Anne
2019

Film
Shaun of the Dead
Barbara
2004

TV
Comedy Connections
2003

Film
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Isobel Merton
2025

Film
The BFG
The Queen
2016

TV
Five Days
Barbara Poole
2007

Film
Belle
Lady Mary Murray
2013

TV
South Riding
Mrs Beddows
2011

Film
Match Point
Eleanor Hewett
2005

TV
Wives and Daughters
Mrs. Hamley
1999
Filmography
2026FilmFing!2025FilmDownton Abbey: The Grand Finaleas Isobel Merton2025FilmDownton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finaleas Self2024TVDead Hotas Francine2023TVMurder Is Easyas Miss Pinkerton2023FilmThe Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryas Maureen Fry2022FilmJudi Dench: Our National Treasureas Self2022TVRemembers…2022FilmDownton Abbey: A New Eraas Isobel Merton2022FilmOperation Mincemeatas Hester Leggett2020FilmEternal Beautyas Vivian2020FilmSummerlandas Older Alice2019FilmDownton Abbeyas Isobel Merton2019TVAfter Lifeas Anne2018FilmZooas Denise Austin2018FilmThe Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Societyas Amelia Maugery2017FilmBrexit Shorts: The Endas Helen2016TVBrief Encountersas Pauline2016FilmThe BFGas The Queen2016FilmAll the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Filmas Narrator (voice)2015FilmThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Jean Ainslie2013FilmNational Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stageas Delia2013FilmBelleas Lady Mary Murray2012FilmThe Girlas Peggy Robertson2012FilmThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Jean Ainslie2011TVSouth Ridingas Mrs Beddows2010TVDownton Abbeyas Isobel Merton2010FilmHarold Pinter: A Celebrationas Self2009FilmMargotas B.Q.2008TVThe Passionas Mary2007FilmHalf Broken Thingsas Jean2007FilmCelebrationas Julie2007TVFive Daysas Barbara Poole2006FilmThe History Boysas Mrs. Bibby2005FilmMatch Pointas Eleanor Hewett2005FilmPride & Prejudiceas Mrs. Gardiner2005TVDoctor Who2005FilmFallingas Daisy Langrish2004FilmShaun of the Deadas Barbara2003FilmCalendar Girlsas Ruth2003TVComedy Connections2003FilmLucky Jimas Celia Welch2001FilmIrisas Janet Stone2001TVBob & Roseas Monica Gossage2001FilmVictoria & Albertas Princess Mary Louise Victoria2001FilmThe Whistle-Bloweras Heather Graham2000FilmVictoria Wood with All the Trimmingsas Mrs. Cratchit2000FilmRockabyas Old Woman1999TVWives and Daughtersas Mrs. Hamley1999FilmTom's Midnight Gardenas Aunt Melbourne1999FilmThe Strange Case of Delfina Potockaas Delfina / Paulina1998FilmAlice Through the Looking Glassas White Queen1998FilmTalking Heads 21995FilmLandscapeas Beth1995FilmCarringtonas Lady Ottoline Morrell1995TVKavanagh Q.C.as Barbara Watkins1994FilmThe Deep Blue Seaas Hester Collyer1993TVThe Return of the Borrowersas Homily1993FilmThe Secret Raptureas Marion French1992TVThe Borrowersas Homily1992TVScreaming1992FilmBlame It on the Bellboyas Patricia Fulford1991TVPerformanceas Beth1988TVTalking Headsas Rosemary1987FilmCry Freedomas Wendy Woods1986FilmClockwiseas Pat Garden1985TVC.A.T.S. Eyes1984FilmLaughterhouseas Alice Singleton1984TVEver Decreasing Circles1983FilmThe Tale of Beatrix Potteras Beatrix Potter1982TVThe Tale of Beatrix Potteras Beatrix Potter1982FilmKing Learas Regan1981FilmCountryas Virginia Carlion1981FilmOthelloas Desdemona1981FilmThe French Lieutenant's Womanas Sonia1980FilmPasmoreas Helen1978TVAn Audience with...as Self1977FilmAble's Willas Journalist1977TVThe Norman Conquestsas Annie1977FilmJoseph Andrewsas Mrs. Wilton1975FilmKing Learas Regan1972FilmMrs. Warren's Professionas Vivie Warren1972FilmThe Sullens Sistersas Rachel Sullens1972TVCountry Mattersas Rachel Sullens1970TVPlay for Todayas Virginia Carlion1965TVBBC Play of the Monthas Regan—FilmVisitation