
Penelope Wilton
Dame Penelope Alice Wilton DBE(born 3 June 1946) is an English actress. She was formerly married to fellow actor Sir Ian Holm, and as she has not remarried, she retains her married style of Lady Holm. Wilton is known for starring opposite Richard Briers in the BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989), playing Homily in The Borrowers (1992) and The Return of the Borrowers(1993), and for her role as the widowed Isobel Crawley in the ITV drama Downton Abbey (2010–2015). She also played the recurring role of Harriet Jones in Doctor Who (2005–2008) and Anne in Ricky Gervais' Netflix dark comedy After Life. Wilton has had an extensive career on stage, receiving six Olivier Award nominations. She was nominated for Man and Superman (1981), The Secret Rapture (1988), The Deep Blue Sea(1994), John Gabriel Borkman (2008) and The Chalk Garden (2009) before winning the 2015 Olivier Award for Best Actress for Taken at Midnight. Her film appearances include Clockwise (1986), Cry Freedom (1987), Blame It on the Bellboy (1992), Calendar Girls (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Match Point (2005), Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), The Girl (2012), The BFG (2016) and The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023). Description above from the Wikipedia article Penelope Wilton, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.
Known For
Credits
- 2025 ·Downton Abbey: The Grand Finaleas Isobel Crawley
- 2024 ·Dead Hotas Francine
- 2023 ·Murder Is Easyas Miss Pinkerton
- 2023 ·The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fryas Maureen Fry
- 2022 ·Judi Dench: Our National Treasureas Self
- 2022 ·Downton Abbey: A New Eraas Isobel Merton
- 2022 ·Operation Mincemeatas Hester Leggett
- 2020 ·Eternal Beautyas Vivian
- 2020 ·Summerlandas Older Alice
- 2019 ·Downton Abbeyas Isobel Merton
- 2019 ·After Lifeas Anne
- 2018 ·Zooas Denise Austin
- 2018 ·The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Societyas Amelia Maugery
- 2017 ·Brexit Shorts: The Endas Helen
- 2016 ·Brief Encountersas Pauline
- 2016 ·The BFGas The Queen
- 2016 ·All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Filmas Narrator (voice)
- 2015 ·The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Jean Ainslie
- 2013 ·National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stageas Delia
- 2013 ·Belleas Lady Mary Murray
- 2012 ·The Girlas Peggy Robertson
- 2012 ·The Best Exotic Marigold Hotelas Jean Ainslie
- 2011 ·South Ridingas Mrs Beddows
- 2010 ·Downton Abbeyas Isobel Merton
- 2010 ·Harold Pinter: A Celebrationas Self
- 2009 ·Margotas B.Q.
- 2008 ·The Passionas Mary
- 2007 ·Half Broken Thingsas Jean
- 2007 ·Celebrationas Julie
- 2007 ·Five Daysas Barbara Poole
- 2006 ·The History Boysas Mrs. Bibby
- 2005 ·Match Pointas Eleanor Hewett
- 2005 ·Pride & Prejudiceas Mrs. Gardiner
- 2005 ·Doctor Whoas
- 2005 ·Doctor Whoas Harriet Jones
- 2005 ·Fallingas Daisy Langrish
- 2004 ·Shaun of the Deadas Barbara
- 2003 ·Calendar Girlsas Ruth
- 2003 ·Comedy Connectionsas
- 2003 ·Lucky Jimas Celia Welch
- 2001 ·Irisas Janet Stone
- 2001 ·Bob & Roseas Monica Gossage
- 2001 ·Victoria & Albertas Princess Mary Louise Victoria
- 2001 ·The Whistle-Bloweras Heather Graham
- 2000 ·Victoria Wood with All the Trimmingsas Mrs. Cratchit
- 2000 ·Rockabyas Old Woman
- 1999 ·Wives and Daughtersas Mrs. Hamley
- 1999 ·Tom's Midnight Gardenas Aunt Melbourne
- 1999 ·The Strange Case of Delfina Potockaas Delfina / Paulina
- 1998 ·Alice Through the Looking Glassas White Queen
- 1998 ·Talking Heads 2as
- 1995 ·Landscapeas Beth
- 1995 ·Carringtonas Lady Ottoline Morrell
- 1995 ·Kavanagh Q.C.as Barbara Watkins
- 1994 ·The Deep Blue Seaas Hester Collyer
- 1993 ·The Return of the Borrowersas Homily
- 1993 ·The Secret Raptureas Marion French
- 1992 ·The Borrowersas Homily
- 1992 ·Screamingas
- 1992 ·Blame It on the Bellboyas Patricia Fulford
- 1991 ·Performanceas Beth
- 1988 ·Talking Headsas Rosemary
- 1987 ·Cry Freedomas Wendy Woods
- 1986 ·Clockwiseas Pat Garden
- 1985 ·C.A.T.S. Eyesas
- 1984 ·Laughterhouseas Alice Singleton
- 1984 ·Ever Decreasing Circlesas
- 1983 ·The Tale of Beatrix Potteras Beatrix Potter
- 1982 ·The Tale of Beatrix Potteras Beatrix Potter
- 1982 ·King Learas Regan
- 1981 ·Countryas Virginia Carlion
- 1981 ·Othelloas Desdemona
- 1981 ·The French Lieutenant's Womanas Sonia
- 1980 ·Pasmoreas Helen
- 1978 ·The BBC Television Shakespeareas
- 1978 ·An Audience with...as Self
- 1977 ·The Norman Conquestsas Annie
- 1977 ·Joseph Andrewsas Mrs. Wilton
- 1975 ·Arenaas Self - Narrator
- Future ·Fing!as
- 1975 ·King Learas Regan
- Future ·Visitationas
- Future ·FING!as
- 1977 ·Able's Willas Journalist
- 1972 ·Mrs. Warren's Professionas Vivie Warren
- 1970 ·Play for Todayas Virginia Carlion