Penelope Wilton
Acting
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
Acting90
movieDownton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
Isobel Merton
tvDead Hot
2024
Francine
tvMurder Is Easy
2023
Miss Pinkerton
movieDownton Abbey: A New Era
2022
Isobel Merton
movieOperation Mincemeat
2022
Hester Leggett
movieEternal Beauty
2020
Vivian
movieSummerland
2020
Older Alice
movieDownton Abbey
2019
Isobel Merton
tvAfter Life
2019
Anne
movieZoo
2018
Denise Austin
movieThe Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
2018
Amelia Maugery
tvBrief Encounters
2016
Pauline
movieThe BFG
2016
The Queen
movieAll the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film
2016
Narrator (voice)
movieThe Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2015
Jean Ainslie
movieBelle
2013
Lady Mary Murray
movieThe Girl
2012
Peggy Robertson
movieThe Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2012
Jean Ainslie
tvSouth Riding
2011
Mrs Beddows
tvDownton Abbey
2010
Isobel Merton
movieMargot
2009
B.Q.
movieCelebration
2007
Julie
tvFive Days
2007
Barbara Poole
movieThe History Boys
2006
Mrs. Bibby
movieMatch Point
2005
Eleanor Hewett
moviePride & Prejudice
2005
Mrs. Gardiner
tvDoctor Who
2005
Harriet Jones
movieFalling
2005
Daisy Langrish
movieShaun of the Dead
2004
Barbara
movieLucky Jim
2003
Celia Welch
movieIris
2001
Janet Stone
tvBob & Rose
2001
Monica Gossage
movieVictoria & Albert
2001
Princess Mary Louise Victoria
movieThe Whistle-Blower
2001
Heather Graham
movieVictoria Wood with All the Trimmings
2000
Mrs. Cratchit
movieRockaby
2000
Old Woman
tvWives and Daughters
1999
Mrs Hamley
movieTom's Midnight Garden
1999
Aunt Melbourne
movieThe Strange Case of Delfina Potocka
1999
Delfina / Paulina
movieAlice Through the Looking Glass
1998
White Queen
movieCarrington
1995
Lady Ottoline Morrell
tvKavanagh Q.C.
1995
Barbara Watkins
movieThe Deep Blue Sea
1994
Hester Collyer
The Secret Rapture
1993
Marion French
tvThe Borrowers
1992
Homily
movieBlame It on the Bellboy
1992
Patricia Fulford
tvPerformance
1991
Beth / Hester Collyer
4 Play
1989
Julia
tvTalking Heads
1988
Rosemary
movieCry Freedom
1987
Wendy Woods
movieClockwise
1986
Pat Garden
movieLaughterhouse
1984
Alice Singleton
movieThe Tale of Beatrix Potter
1983
Beatrix Potter
tvThe Tale of Beatrix Potter
1982
Beatrix Potter
movieKing Lear
1982
Regan
movieCountry
1981
Virginia Carlion
movieOthello
1981
Desdemona
moviePasmore
1980
Helen
movieAble's Will
1977
Journalist
movieJoseph Andrews
1977
Mrs. Wilton
movieKing Lear
1975
Regan
The Pearcross Girls
1973
Anna Pearcross / Helen Charlesworth / Julia Pearcross / Lottie Merchant
movieMrs. Warren's Profession
1972
Vivie Warren
The Sullens Sisters
1972
Rachel Sullens
tvCountry Matters
1972
Rachel Sullens
tvPlay for Today
1970
Virginia Carlion
Mavis Eccleston
Mavis Eccleston