Prunella Scales facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Prunella Scales
|
|
|---|---|
Scales in 2010
|
|
| Born |
Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth
22 June 1932 Sutton Abinger, Surrey, England
|
| Died | 27 October 2025 (aged 93) London, England
|
| Education | Moira House Girls' School, Eastbourne; The Old Vic School; Ute Hagen, New York |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1952–2019 |
| Television |
|
| Spouse(s) | |
| Children | 2, including Samuel West |
Prunella Scales (born Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth on 22 June 1932, died 27 October 2025) was a much-loved English actress. She was famous for playing Sybil Fawlty in the funny TV show Fawlty Towers from 1975 to 1979. She also played Queen Elizabeth II in a play called A Question of Attribution in 1991, which was a big success. Later in her career, she and her husband, actor Timothy West, explored canals in a TV series called Great Canal Journeys.
Contents
Growing Up and School
Prunella Scales was born on 22 June 1932 in Sutton Abinger, England. Her father, John, was a salesman, and her mother, Catherine (known as "Bim"), was an actress. Prunella also had a younger brother named Timothy.
When the Second World War began in 1939, her family moved to a safer area in Devon. In 1942, Prunella won a scholarship to Moira House School. This school had moved to the beautiful Lake District during the war.
Prunella always loved acting. In 1949, she earned another scholarship to the famous Old Vic Theatre School. This was a special place where many great actors learned their craft.
A Long Acting Career
Prunella Scales began her acting journey in 1951. She often played funny characters. Some of her early roles were in films like Hobson's Choice (1954) and Room at the Top (1959).
Her big break came in the 1960s with the TV comedy Marriage Lines. But her most famous role was Sybil Fawlty in the hilarious sitcom Fawlty Towers. She starred in this show in 1975 and 1979. A sitcom is a "situation comedy," a TV show with funny stories about the same group of characters.
Prunella also acted in many radio comedies, like After Henry. On television, she appeared in the series Mapp & Lucia. She was in several films too, including Howards End (1992) and Wolf (1994). She even performed in a BBC Television Shakespeare play, The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982).
Later Roles and Famous Performances
In 1991, Prunella played Queen Elizabeth II in a TV play called A Question of Attribution. This role was very well received.
She also voiced Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle in The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends in 1994. Many people remember her from the Tesco supermarket advertisements, where she played "Dotty" for ten years.
Prunella often performed a special one-woman show called An Evening with Queen Victoria. She played Queen Victoria over 400 times around the world! She also appeared in TV shows like Midsomer Murders and Silent Witness. In 2003, she voiced a character in an opera recording, La gazza ladra (The Thieving Magpie).
Great Canal Journeys
In her later years, Prunella continued to act. She appeared in Children in Need in 2007, once again playing Sybil Fawlty. She also starred in the family film Horrid Henry: The Movie in 2011.
From 2014, Prunella and her husband, Timothy West, starred in a popular TV series called Great Canal Journeys. They traveled on narrowboats along canals in the UK and other countries. The show was loved by many because it showed their adventures and their strong relationship.
Personal Life
Prunella Scales was married to fellow actor Timothy West from 1963 until his death in 2024. They had two sons, one of whom is the actor and director Samuel West. Prunella also had a step-daughter.
She and Timothy shared a love for narrowboating, which they enjoyed together. Prunella was also a patron of several organizations, including the Lace Market Theatre. She also supported the Council for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) for many years.
Health and Passing
In 2013, Prunella was diagnosed with vascular dementia. This is a condition that affects memory and thinking. She and her husband, Timothy, spoke openly about her health on their show Great Canal Journeys. They showed how they faced this challenge together.
Prunella Scales passed away peacefully at her home in London on 27 October 2025, at the age of 93. Many people, including her co-star John Cleese, remembered her as a wonderful and funny actress. Her sons shared that she was watching Fawlty Towers the day before she died. She was truly a national treasure.
Awards and Recognition
Prunella Scales received many honors during her life.
- In 1992, she was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). This is a special award from the British monarch for her contributions.
- She received honorary degrees from the University of Bradford and the University of East Anglia.
- A rose was even named "Prunella" in her honor!
She was nominated for a British Academy Television Award for Best Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth II. She also received two nominations for the Laurence Olivier Awards, which celebrate excellence in professional theatre.
