Personal Info
Known For
Acting
Born
June 22, 1932
Died
October 27, 2025 (age 93)
Place of Birth
Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England, UK
Also Known As
Prunella Margaret Rumney West Scales
Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth
پرونلا اسکیلز
Prunella Scales
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.
John Cleese, Prunella Scales Mistress
VideoKnown For
TV
Midsomer Murders
Eleanor Bunsall
1997
TV
Casualty
Jocelyn Anderson
1986
TV
Loose Women
Self
1999
TV
Silent Witness
Anne Parker
1996
TV
Playhouse
Florence Farr
1974
TV
Agatha Christie's Marple
Mrs Mackenzie
2004
TV
BBC Play of the Month
Queen Jemima
1965
TV
Bergerac
Gloria Gibbins
1981
TV
Thirty-Minute Theatre
Marie
1965
TV
An Audience with...
Self
1978
TV
Dalziel and Pascoe
Edith Disney
1996
TV
Never the Twain
Susan Peel
1981
TV
Film '72
Self
1971
TV
Fawlty Towers
Sybil Fawlty
1975
TV
Country Matters
Babs Pickard
1972
TV
ScreenPlay
Milly
1986
TV
The BBC Television Shakespeare
Mistress Page
1978
TV
Screen One
H.M.Q.
1989
TV
Target
Diana Blake
1977
TV
Theatre Night
Mrs. Prentice
1985
Filmography
2025FilmThe Cancellation Of Fawlty Towers2014Film50 Years of BBC Two Comedyas Self2014TVGreat Canal Journeysas Self2014FilmSub Rosaas Madame2013FilmThe Phone Callas Joan2012FilmRun For Your Wifeas Woman in Pub2011FilmHorrid Henry: The Movieas Great Aunt Greta2009FilmFawlty Towers: Re-Openedas Self / Sybil Fawlty2007FilmThe Shell Seekersas Dolly Keeling2007FilmThinkas Customer2007FilmWhat the Pythons Did Next...as Self2006FilmMr. Loveday's Little Outingas Lady Moping2005FilmFawlty Towers Revisitedas Herself2005FilmThe Funny Blokes of British Comedyas Sybil Fawlty (archive footage) (uncredited)2004TVAgatha Christie's Marpleas Mrs Mackenzie2003TVLooking for Victoriaas Self / Victoria2003TVThe Royalas Red Admiral2002TVDickensas Elizabeth Dickens2002FilmA Day In The Death Of Joe Eggas Grace2001FilmStation Jimas Queen Victoria2000FilmThe Ghost of Greville Lodgeas Sarah1999FilmMad Cowsas Dr. Minny Stinkler1999TVLoose Womenas Self1999FilmAn Ideal Husbandas Lady Markby1998FilmStiff Upper Lipsas Aunt Agnes1997TVKeeping Mumas Marjorie1997FilmAn Audience with Alf Garnett1997TVMidsomer Murdersas Eleanor Bunsall1996FilmEmmaas Miss Bates1996FilmBreaking the Codeas Sara Turing1996FilmLord of Misruleas Shirley1996TVDennis the Menace and Gnasheras Mrs. Duffel1996TVDalziel and Pascoeas Edith Disney1996TVSilent Witnessas Anne Parker1995TVThe World of Lee Evansas Mother1995TVLook at the State We're In!as Storyteller1995FilmAn Awfully Big Adventureas Rose1995TVSigns and Wondersas Elizabeth Palmore1994FilmSecond Bestas Margery1994FilmWolfas Maude Waggins1994FilmFair Gameas Marjorie1994FilmThe 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 Richardson1992FilmFreddie As F.R.O.7.as Queen (voice)1992FilmMy Friend Walteras Aunt Ellie1992FilmHowards Endas Aunt Juley1991FilmA Question of Attributionas H.M.Q.1990FilmThe Tale of Little Pig Robinsonas Fleecy Flock1990FilmDirty Beastsas Narrator1990FilmRevolting Rhymesas Narrator1989TVScreen Oneas H.M.Q.1989FilmBeyond The Paleas Milly1989FilmA Chorus of Disapprovalas Hannah Ap Llewellyn1989FilmBosses From Hell1989FilmCommunicators From Hell1988TVThompson1988FilmNatural Causesas Celia Bryce1988FilmConsuming Passionsas Ethel1988TVAfter Henryas Sarah France1987FilmWhen We Are Marriedas Annie Parker1987FilmThe Lonely Passion of Judith Hearneas Moira O'Neill1987FilmWhat the Butler Sawas Mrs Prentice1986FilmHome Cookingas Judith1986TVUnnatural Causesas Judith1986TVCasualtyas Jocelyn Anderson1986TVScreenPlayas Milly1985TVTheatre Nightas Mrs. Prentice1985TVMapp & Luciaas Miss Elizabeth Mapp1985FilmAbsurd Person Singularas Marion Brewster-Wright1984TVWeekend Playhouseas Olive Dodd1984FilmSlimming Downas Mrs. Shrigley1983FilmThe Wicked Ladyas Lady Kingsclere1983FilmSinglesas Gail1982FilmThe Merry Wives of Windsoras Mistress Page1982FilmOutside Edgeas Miriam1981TVBergeracas Gloria Gibbins1981TVNever the Twainas Susan Peel1978FilmDoris and Doreenas Doris Rutter1978TVThe BBC Television Shakespeareas Mistress Page1978FilmThe Boys from Brazilas Mrs. Harrington1978FilmThe Hound of the Baskervillesas Glynis1978TVAn Audience with...as Self1977TVTargetas Diana Blake1977FilmThe Achurch Lettersas Florence Farr1976TVLucky Feller1976FilmThe Littlest Horse Thievesas Mrs. Sandman1975TVFawlty Towersas Sybil Fawlty1975FilmThe Apple Cartas Queen Jemima1974TVPlayhouseas Florence Farr1973TVSeven of Oneas Marion Joyce1973FilmThe Ring of Truthas Babs Pickard1972TVCountry Mattersas Babs Pickard1971TVFilm '72as Self1965TVBBC Play of the Monthas Queen Jemima1965TVThirty-Minute Theatreas Marie1962FilmWaltz of the Toreadorsas Estella Fitzjohn1961TVFaces of Jimas Laura Morrell1961TVMarriage Linesas Kate Starling1958FilmRoom at the Topas Council Office Worker (uncredited)1954FilmThe Crowded Dayas Customer1954FilmWhat Every Woman Wantsas Mary1954FilmHobson's Choiceas Vicky Hobson1953FilmLaxdale Hallas Morag McLeod