Prunella Scales (born Prunella Margaret Rumney Illingworth; 22 June 1932) is an English actress. She is best known for her role as Basil Fawlty's wife Sybil in the BBC comedy "Fawlty Towers" and her BAFTA award-nominated role as Queen Elizabeth II in "A Question of Attribution" ("Screen One", BBC 1991) by Alan Bennett.