I knew Prunella Scales first as the acidic Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers (1975-9), and any time I encounter the herb “basil,” I am compelled to screech “BAAAASIIIL” like her character. I also love her name, it seems so quintessentially English. Then I noticed she was in frock flicks like Mapp & Lucia and my beloved Howards End. Plus she’s married to actor Timothy West, and their son Samuel West is quite the frock flicker too. I recently watched the series Great Canal Journeys that Prunella and Timothy did, exploring mostly English canals. When that show started, they announced that Prunella Scales was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. She continued to work up until January 2020, and is now surrounded by family, even enjoying All Creatures Great and Small with her son. She’s given me decades of laughter and beautiful performances, so here’s my toast to such a great lady!
Lydia Bennet in Pride and Prejudice (1952)
Vicky Hobson in Hobson’s Choice (1954)
Mrs. Sandman in The Littlest Horse Thieves (1976)
Mistress Page in The Merry Wives of Windsor (1982)
Lady Kingsclere in The Wicked Lady (1983)
Miss Elizabeth Mapp in Mapp & Lucia (1985)
Moira O’Neill in The Lonely Passion of Judith Hearne (1987)
Annie Parker in When We Are Married (1987)
H.M.Q. in “A Question of Attribution,” Screen One (1991)
Aunt Juley in Howards End (1992)
Sara Turing in Breaking the Code (1996)
Miss Bates in Emma (1996)
Aunt Agnes in Stiff Upper Lips (1997)
Queen Victoria in Looking for Victoria (2003)
What’s your favorite historical costume movie or TV role by Prunella Scales?
’bout time! I’ve been waiting years for this.
Darling Prunella—thanks for proclaiming her your/our WCW. Sad to hear about her present affliction, though.
I love Prunella Scales. I had the opportunity to take a master class with her when I was studying in London. I was surprised to find out that she was a student of Uta Hagen’s. She was much more method than I expected.
How amazing!
She’s wonderful. I particularly love the “Question of Attribution” since it is a wicked and subtle treatment of the theme.
She was so darn funny in Fawlty Towers! It was amazing how much she and Cleese were able to work the physicality so that she always seemed so much more intimidating than him, even though he was head and shoulders taller than she was!
Hobson’s Choice is my favorite movie of all time! The relationship between Brenda De Banzie and John Mills is so lovely.
I also love Fawlty Towers and yet I never realized that the younger sister was the same actress as Mrs Fawlty!
I saw her in An Awfully Big Adventure because, well, Alan Rickman. :)
My vote is for Howard’s End, however, it’s the only one I’ve seen on this list. Several of these films seem really interesting! Can’t wait to watch! Great WCW choice!
I adore her name!
It’s the best!