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Penelope Wilton
Penelope Wilton
Age 80 years (Jun 3, 1946)
Birthplace Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Movies 39
TV Shows 21

Penelope Wilton

Actress · Since 1981
British actress born in Scarborough in 1946, a fixture of British television and stage best known internationally as Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010). She played former Prime Minister Harriet Jones in Russell T Davies revived Doctor Who and Barbara in the sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles. Her film work includes Simon Pegg Shaun of the Dead (2004) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) with Judi Dench. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2016.
British actress born in Scarborough in 1946, a fixture of British television and stage best known internationally as Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010). She played former Prime Minister Harriet Jones in Russell T Davies revived Doctor Who and Barbara in the sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles. Her film work includes Simon Pegg Shaun of the Dead (2004) and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) with Judi Dench. She was made a Dame of the British Empire in 2016.
Movies
Latest Trailers
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Watch Trailer
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Full Filmography 60
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
Isobel Merton
★ 7.1
2025
Dead Hot
Francine · 6 episodes
★ 7.6
2024–
Murder Is Easy
Miss Pinkerton · 2 episodes
★ 5.2
2023–
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
Maureen Fry
★ 6.6
2023
Downton Abbey: A New Era
Isobel Merton
★ 7.2
2022
Operation Mincemeat
Hester Leggett
★ 6.5
2022
Eternal Beauty
Vivian
★ 6.2
2020
Summerland
Older Alice
★ 7.5
2020
Downton Abbey
Isobel Merton
★ 7.2
2019
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Penelope Wilton and where are they from?
Penelope Wilton is 80 years old, born on June 3, 1946 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK.
What are the most famous roles of Penelope Wilton?
Penelope Wilton is best known for roles in Shaun of the Dead, Pride & Prejudice, Match Point.
How many movies has Penelope Wilton been in?
Over a 54-year career (since 1972), Penelope Wilton has appeared in 39 movies and 21 TV shows.
What was Penelope Wilton's first movie?
The career of Penelope Wilton began with The Sullens Sisters (1972).
What is Penelope Wilton's most recent movie or series?
Penelope Wilton's most recent release is The Twelfth Night Reunion, which premiered on January 4, 2026.
What TV shows has Penelope Wilton appeared in?
On television, Penelope Wilton has appeared in Doctor Who, Downton Abbey, After Life, Agatha Christie's Marple.
Does Penelope Wilton have any upcoming projects?
Yes, Penelope Wilton's upcoming work includes: FING! (2027).
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Penelope Wilton
Penelope Wilton
1946-06-03 · Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK

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).Penelope Wilton, licensed under CC-BY-SA, full list of contributors on Wikipedia.

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