Penelope Wilton | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Wilton in 2025 | |
| Born | (1946-06-03)3 June 1946 (age 79) Scarborough, England |
| Alma mater | Drama Centre London |
| Occupation | Actress |
| Years active | 1969–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 1 |
| Relatives | Linden Travers (aunt) Bill Travers (uncle) Angela Morant (cousin) Richard Morant (cousin) |
Dame Penelope Alice WiltonDBE (born 3 June 1946) is an English actress.
Wilton is known for starring oppositeRichard Briers in theBBCsitcomEver Decreasing Circles (1984–1989), playing Homily inThe Borrowers (1992) andThe Return of the Borrowers (1993), and her role as the widowed Isobel Crawley in theITV dramaDownton Abbey (2010–2015). She also played the recurring role ofHarriet Jones inDoctor Who (2005, 2008) and Anne inRicky Gervais'Netflix dark comedyAfter Life.
Wilton has had an extensive career on stage, receiving sixOlivier Award nominations. She was nominated forMan and Superman (1981),The Secret Rapture (1988),The Deep Blue Sea (1994),John Gabriel Borkman (2008) andThe Chalk Garden (2009), before winning the 2015Olivier Award for Best Actress forTaken at Midnight. Her film appearances includeClockwise (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) andThe Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023).
Wilton was born inScarborough,North Riding of Yorkshire, the second of three daughters ofCliff Wilton, aCambridge-educated businessman and barrister who had playedrugby union on the amateur and provincial level, going on to be an administrator in the sport, and Alice Linda Travers, a tap dancer and former actress.[1][2]
She is a niece of actorsBill Travers andLinden Travers. Her cousins include actorsAngela andRichard Morant.[3] Her maternal grandparents owned theatres.[2]
She attended theDrama Centre London from 1965 to 1968.[4][5]
Wilton began her career on stage in 1969 at theNottingham Playhouse. Her early roles includedCordelia inKing Lear, both in Nottingham and atThe Old Vic.[6]
She made herBroadway debut in March 1971 when she played Araminta in the original Broadway production ofThe Philanthropist, and made herWest End debut in August 1971 opposite SirRalph Richardson in theJohn Osborne playWest of Suez at theCambridge Theatre.[7] She had previously appeared in both plays at theRoyal Court Theatre. She played Ruth in the original 1974 London stage production ofAlan Ayckbourn'sNorman Conquests trilogy, initially as understudy forBridget Turner.
Her television acting career began in 1972, playing Vivie Warren in the BBC2's adaptation ofMrs. Warren's Profession oppositeCoral Browne in the title role andRobert Powell.[8] The production was repeated as part of thePlay of the Month series in 1974 on BBC1.[9] In 1994, Wilton portrayed Browne in a radio adaptation ofAn Englishman Abroad for theBBC World Service[10] and repeated on various BBC radio formats since.[11]
Following the broadcast ofMrs. Warren's Profession, Wilton then had several major TV roles, including two of theBBC Television Shakespeare productions (asDesdemona inOthello andRegan inKing Lear).[12]
Wilton's film career includes roles inThe French Lieutenant's Woman (1981),Cry Freedom (1987),Iris (2001),Calendar Girls (2003) andShaun of the Dead (2004),Jane Austen'sPride & Prejudice (2005),Woody Allen'sMatch Point (2005), and inThe History Boys (2006).[citation needed]
She did not garner fame until she appeared withRichard Briers in the 1984 BBC situation comedy,Ever Decreasing Circles, which ran for five years. She played Ann, long suffering wife of Martin (Briers), an obsessive and pedantic "do-gooder". In 2005, Wilton guest starred asHarriet Jones for two episodes in the BBC's revival of the popular TVscience-fiction seriesDoctor Who. This guest role was written especially for her by the programme's chief writer and executive producerRussell T. Davies, with whom she had worked onBob and Rose (ITV, 2001). The character of Jones returned as Prime Minister in theDoctor Who 2005 Christmas special "The Christmas Invasion". In the first part of the 2008 series finale, "The Stolen Earth", she made a final appearance, now as the former Prime Minister who sacrifices herself by extermination by theDaleks so thatthe Doctor's companions can contact him.[citation needed]
Wilton appeared on television as Barbara Poole, the mother of a missing woman, in the BBC television drama seriesFive Days in 2005; and in ITV's dramaHalf Broken Things (October 2007) and the BBC production ofThe Passion (Easter 2008). Beginning in 2010, she appeared asIsobel Crawley in all six seasons of the hit period dramaDownton Abbey. She was the castaway onBBC Radio 4'sDesert Island Discs in April 2008. In December 2012 and February 2013, she was the narrator in Lin Coghlan's dramatisation ofElizabeth Jane Howard'sThe Cazalets, broadcast on BBC Radio.[13]
Between 1975 and 1984, Wilton was married to actorDaniel Massey. They had a daughter, Alice, born in 1977.[14] Before that, they had a stillborn son.[15]
In 1991, Wilton married actorIan Holm. In 1992, they appeared together as Pod and Homily in theBBC's adaptation ofThe Borrowers. A year later, they appeared together in a follow-upThe Return of the Borrowers. In 1998, Ian Holm was knighted and Wilton became Lady Holm. They divorced in 2001.[16]
As she has not remarried, she could be known, if she so chose, asPenelope,Lady Holm, in line with the style of the former wife of a knight.[17]
Wilton was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the2004 New Year Honours and was elevated to become aDame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the2016 Birthday Honours,[18] both for services to drama.In 2017 Wilton was made an Honorary Graduate and Fellow by York St John University[19]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970–1972 | Thirty-Minute Theatre | The Editor's Secretary / Lucy | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1972 | Country Matters | Rachel Sullens | TV series (1 episode: "The Sullens Sisters") |
| Play of the Month:Mrs. Warren's Profession | Vivie Warren | TV drama (G. B. Shaw) | |
| 1973 | The Pearcross Girls | Anna Pearcross / Helen Charlesworth / Julia Pearcross / Lottie Merchant | TV series (4 episodes) |
| The Song of Songs | Lilli Czepanek | TV drama | |
| 1975 | Play of the Month:King Lear | Regan | Shakespeare, d.Jonathan Miller |
| 1976 | The Widowing of Mrs Holroyd | Mrs. Lizzie Holroyd | TV drama |
| 1977 | The Norman Conquests: Living Together | Annie | TV drama |
| The Norman Conquests: Round and Round the Garden | Annie | TV drama | |
| The Norman Conquests: Table Manners | Annie | TV drama | |
| 1980–1981 | Play for Today | Helen / Virginia Carlion | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1981 | Othello | Desdemona | Shakespeare (d. Jonathan Miller) |
| 1982 | The Tale of Beatrix Potter | Beatrix Potter | TV drama |
| King Lear | Regan | Shakespeare (d. Jonathan Miller) | |
| 1984–1989 | Ever Decreasing Circles | Ann Bryce | TV series (27 episodes) |
| 1986 | C.A.T.S. Eyes | Angela Lane | TV series (1 episode: "Good as New") |
| The Monocled Mutineer | Lady Angela Forbes | TV series (2 episodes) | |
| 1990 | 4 Play | Julia | TV series (1 episode: "Madly in Love") |
| 1992 | Screaming | Beatrice | TV series |
| The Borrowers | Homily | TV series | |
| 1993 | The Return of the Borrowers | Homily | TV series |
| 1994–1995 | Performance | Hester Collyer / Beth | TV series (2 episodes) |
| 1998 | This Could Be the Last Time | Marjorie | Television film |
| Talking Heads 2 | Rosemary | TV miniseries (1 episode: "Nights in the Gardens of Spain") | |
| Alice Through the Looking Glass | White Queen | TV film | |
| 1999 | Kavanagh QC | Barbara Watkins | TV series (1 episode: "Time of Need") |
| Wives and Daughters | Mrs. Hamley | TV miniseries (2 episodes) | |
| 2000 | Rockaby | Old Woman | TV short |
| Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings | Mrs Cratchitt | A Christmas Carol sketch | |
| 2001 | The Whistle-Blower | Heather Graham | TV film |
| Victoria & Albert | Princess Victoria, Duchess of Kent | TV film | |
| Bob & Rose | Monica Gossage | TV series (3 episodes) | |
| 2003 | Lucky Jim | Celia Welch | TV film |
| 2005 | Falling | Daisy Langrish | TV film |
| 2005, 2008 | Doctor Who | Harriet Jones | TV series; 4 episodes:Aliens of London,World War Three,The Christmas Invasion andThe Stolen Earth |
| 2006 | Celebration | Julie | TV film |
| 2007 | Five Days | Barbara Poole | TV series (4 episodes) Nominated: RTS Award – Best Actor |
| Half-Broken Things | Jean | TV film | |
| 2008 | The Passion | Mary | TV miniseries |
| 2009 | Margot | B.Q. | TV film |
| 2010 | Marple: They Do It with Mirrors | Carrie Louise Serrocold | TV film |
| My Family | Rosemary Matthews | TV series (1 episode: "Wheelie Ben") | |
| 2010–2015 | Downton Abbey | Isobel Crawley, Baroness Merton | TV series |
| 2011 | South Riding | Mrs. Beddows | TV series (3 episodes) |
| 2012 | The Girl | Peggy Robertson | TV film |
| 2016 | Brief Encounters | Pauline Spake | TV series (6 episodes) |
| 2019–2022 | After Life | Anne | TV series (3 series) |
| 2023 | Murder Is Easy | Miss Pinkerton | Two-part drama[20] |
| 2024 | Dead Hot | Francine | TV series (6 episodes) |
| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | King Lear | Cordelia | Nottingham Playhouse/The Old Vic, London (1970) |
| The Dandy Lion | Nottingham Playhouse | ||
| The Hostage | Nottingham Playhouse | ||
| 1970 | The Philanthropist | Araminta | Royal Court Theatre, London/Ethel Barrymore Theatre,New York City (1971) |
| 1971 | West of Suez | Mary | Royal Court Theatre/Cambridge Theatre, London |
| 1972 | The Great Exhibition | Maud | Hampstead Theatre Club, London |
| 1973 | The Director of the Opera | Sophia | Royal Court Theatre |
| The Seagull | Masha | Chichester Festival Theatre | |
| Uncle Vanya | Sofia Alexandrovna | Bristol Old Vic - Theatre Royal | |
| Plunder | Joan Hewlett | Bristol Old Vic - Theatre Royal | |
| 1974 | Something's Burning | Dikson | Mermaid Theatre, London |
| The Norman Conquests | Ruth | Greenwich Theatre, London | |
| Bloomsbury | Dora Carrington | Phoenix Theatre, London | |
| 1975 | Measure for Measure | Isabella | Greenwich Theatre |
| 1976 | "Play," Play and Others | Second woman | Royal Court Theatre |
| 1978 | Plunder | Prudence Malone | National Theatre Company,Lyttelton Theatre, London |
| The Philanderer | Julia Craven | National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre | |
| Betrayal | Emma | National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre | |
| 1979 | Tishoo | Barbara | Wyndham's Theatre, London |
| 1981 | Man and Superman | Ann Whitefield and Dona Ana | National Theatre Company,Olivier Theatre, London |
| Much Ado About Nothing | Beatrice | National Theatre Company, Olivier Theatre | |
| 1982 | Major Barbara | Barbara Undershaft | National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre |
| 1988 | The Secret Rapture | Marion French | National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre |
| Andromache | Hermione | The Old Vic | |
| 1990 | Piano | National Theatre Company,Cottesloe Theatre, London | |
| 1993 | The Deep Blue Sea | Hester Collyer | Almeida Theatre, London |
| 1999 | A Kind of Alaska, the Collection, and the Lover | Deborah | Donmar Warehouse, London |
| 2000 | The Seagull | Arkadina | Barbican Theatre, London |
| 2001 | The Little Foxes | Regina | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2002 | Afterplay | Sonya | Gielgud Theatre/Gate Theatre, Dublin |
| 2005 | The House of Bernarda Alba | Bernarda | National Theatre Company, Lyttelton Theatre |
| 2006 | Eh Joe | Female voice | Gate Theatre, Dublin/Duke of York's Theatre, London |
| Women Beware Women | Livia | Swan Theatre, Stratford | |
| 2007 | John Gabriel Borkman | Ella Rentheim | Donmar Warehouse |
| 2008 | The Chalk Garden | Miss Madrigal | Donmar Warehouse |
| The Family Reunion | Agatha | Donmar Warehouse | |
| 2009 | Hamlet | Gertrude | Wyndham's Theatre |
| 2011 | A Delicate Balance | Agnes | Almeida Theatre |
| 2014–2015 | Taken at Midnight | Irmgard Litten | Minerva Theatre, Chichester/Theatre Royal Haymarket, London |
| 2018 | Fanny and Alexander | Helena Ekdahl | The Old Vic |
| 2019 | The Bay at Nice | Valentina Nrovka | Menier Chocolate Factory, London |
| 2023 | Backstairs Billy | Queen Mother | Duke of York's Theatre |
In 2012, Wilton received an honorary doctorate from the University of Hull Scarborough Campus.[21]
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1981 | Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a Revival | Man and Superman | Nominated |
| Critics' Circle Award for Best Actress | Much Ado About Nothing | Won | |
| 1988 | Olivier Award for Actress of the Year in a New Play | The Secret Rapture | Nominated |
| 1993 | Critics' Circle Award for Best Actress | The Deep Blue Sea | Won |
| 1994 | Olivier Award for Best Actress | Nominated | |
| 2001 | Evening Standard Award for Best Actress | The Little Foxes | Nominated |
| 2008 | Olivier Award for Best Actress | John Gabriel Borkman | Nominated |
| Evening Standard Award for Best Actress | The Chalk Garden | Won | |
| 2009 | Olivier Award for Best Actress | Nominated | |
| 2015 | Olivier Award for Best Actress | Taken at Midnight | Won |
| Year | Award | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble | The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | Downton Abbey | Won | |
| 2013 | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Won | ||
| 2015 | Won |
She is addressed as the wife of a knight, provided that she does not remarry, when she will take her style from her present husband.
