
Penny Downie
Biography
Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. From 2017 until 2021 she played Ellen in the British TV sitcom Back. She plays the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning in the 2023 Netflix political thriller series The Diplomat.
Known For

TV
Agatha Christie's Poirot
Frances Cloade
1989

TV
The Crown
Duchess of Gloucester
2016

TV
Minder
Dee Rogers
1979

TV
Father Brown
Rev. Mother Augustine
2013

TV
Vera
Veronica
2011

TV
Downton Abbey
Lady Sinderby
2010

TV
Spooks
Prosecution QC
2002

TV
Waking the Dead
Bonnie Yorke
2001

TV
Absentia
Valerie Chandris
2017

TV
The Diplomat
Frances Munning
2023

TV
Inspector Morse
Nurse Wendy Hazlitt
1987

TV
Ripper Street
Flora Gable
2012

TV
Timewatch
Caecilia
1982

TV
Silk
Helen Guthrie
2011

TV
Kavanagh Q.C.
Mrs. Rosalind McEnery
1995

TV
The Chelsea Detective
Hilary Carmichael
2022

TV
Houdini & Doyle
Mrs. Sulzbach
2016

TV
Dalgliesh
Kate Miskin
1983

TV
Whitstable Pearl
Izzy
2021

Film
London Has Fallen
Home Secretary Rose Kenter
2016
Filmography
2024FilmThe Jester from Transylvaniaas Mrs. Pennington2023TVThe Diplomatas Frances Munning2022TVThe Chelsea Detectiveas Hilary Carmichael2021TVWhitstable Pearlas Izzy2017FilmBreatheas Tid2017TVAbsentiaas Valerie Chandris2017TVBackas Ellen2016FilmJackieas Janet Lee2016TVThe Crownas Duchess of Gloucester2016TVHoudini & Doyleas Mrs. Sulzbach2016FilmLondon Has Fallenas Home Secretary Rose Kenter2013TVFather Brownas Rev. Mother Augustine2012TVRipper Streetas Flora Gable2011FilmW.E.as Dr. Vargas2011TVVeraas Veronica2011TVSilkas Helen Guthrie2010TVDownton Abbeyas Lady Sinderby2009FilmHamletas Gertrude2009FilmInvictusas Mrs. Pienaar2006TVNew Street Lawas Honor Scammel2005FilmAll About Georgeas Evelyn2005TVAll About Georgeas Evelyn2005FilmThe Girl in the Caféas Ruth2005FilmFallingas Hazel Kent2005FilmMurder in Romeas Caecilia2004FilmSherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stockingas Judith Massingham2003FilmByronas Lady Judith Milbanke2003FilmVivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mindas Self - Narrator2003TVByronas Lady Judith Milbanke2002TVSpooksas Prosecution QC2001TVThe Cazaletsas Sid2001TVWaking the Deadas Bonnie Yorke2000FilmThe House of Mirthas Judy Trenor1999FilmLost for Wordsas Aileen Longden1998FilmCrime and Punishmentas Katerina1997FilmFood of Loveas Mary1997TVThe Ice Houseas Phoebe Maybury1996TVMadsonas Anderton1995TVKavanagh Q.C.as Mrs. Rosalind McEnery1994FilmParadiseas Linda1991TVStanley and the Womenas Susan Duke1991FilmExas Sheila1989TVAgatha Christie's Poirotas Frances Cloade1988TVA Taste for Deathas Kate Miskin1987FilmLionheartas Madelaine1987TVInspector Morseas Nurse Wendy Hazlitt1985FilmWetherbyas Chrissie1983TVDalglieshas Kate Miskin1982FilmCrosstalkas Cindy1982TVTimewatchas Caecilia1979TVMinderas Dee Rogers