Famed British actress Prunella Scales CBE has passed away.

She was born Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth in Sutton Abinger, Surrey on 22 June 1932 to John Richardson Illingworth and Catherine (née Scales.)

She started out as anassistant stage manager at the Bristol Old Vic in 1951 before breaking into acting. Her first big break was apprearing in Marriage Lines starring opposite Richard Briers.

Her most famous role came in 1975 as Sybil Fawlty in the sitcom Fawlty Towers, opposite John Cleese. She would then go on to appear in After Henry, opposite Joan Sanderson (who had a guest spot on Fawlty Towers as Mrs. Richards.)

In 1991, she played Queen Elizabeth II in Alan Bennett‘s A Question of Attribution.

She was married to fellow actor, Timothy West from 1963 until his death in 2024. Their son, Samuel West, is also an actor. She would appear with her husband in the documentary series, Great Canal Journeys from 2014 to 2019.

Ms. Scales was diagnosed with vascular dementia in 2013, but continued to work. She passed away at 93 on October 27th, 2025 at her home in London.

She was made a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1992 Birthday Honours List.