Penelope Wilton
Acting
93
Acting Credits
Biography
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 ...
Known For
Filmography
FING!
2027
Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale
2025
as Isobel Merton
Downton Abbey Celebrates the Grand Finale
2025
as Self
Dead Hot
2024
as Francine
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
2023
as Maureen Fry
Murder Is Easy
2023
as Miss Pinkerton
Judi Dench: Our National Treasure
2022
as Self
Operation Mincemeat
2022
as Hester Leggett
Downton Abbey: A New Era
2022
as Isobel Merton
Remembers…
2022
Summerland
2020
as Older Alice
Eternal Beauty
2020
as Vivian
Downton Abbey
2019
as Isobel Merton
After Life
2019
as Anne
The Guernsey Literary & Potato Peel Pie Society
2018
as Amelia Maugery
Zoo
2018
as Denise Austin
Brexit Shorts: The End
2017
as Helen
All the World's a Screen: Shakespeare on Film
2016
as Narrator (voice)
The BFG
2016
as The Queen
Brief Encounters
2016
as Pauline
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2015
as Jean Ainslie
Belle
2013
as Lady Mary Murray
National Theatre Live: 50 Years on Stage
2013
as Delia
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
2012
as Jean Ainslie
The Girl
2012
as Peggy Robertson
South Riding
2011
as Mrs Beddows
Harold Pinter: A Celebration
2010
as Self
Downton Abbey
2010
as Isobel Merton
Margot
2009
as B.Q.
The Passion
2008
as Mary
Celebration
2007
as Julie
Half Broken Things
2007
as Jean
Five Days
2007
as Barbara Poole
The History Boys
2006
as Mrs. Bibby
Match Point
2005
as Eleanor Hewett
Falling
2005
as Daisy Langrish
Pride & Prejudice
2005
as Mrs. Gardiner
Doctor Who: The Christmas Invasion
2005
as Harriet Jones
Doctor Who
2005
Doctor Who
2005
as Harriet Jones
Shaun of the Dead
2004
as Barbara
Agatha Christie's Marple
2004
as Carrie Louise Serrocold
Calendar Girls
2003
as Ruth
Lucky Jim
2003
as Celia Welch
Comedy Connections
2003
Iris
2001
as Janet Stone
Victoria & Albert
2001
as Princess Mary Louise Victoria
The Whistle-Blower
2001
as Heather Graham
Bob & Rose
2001
as Monica Gossage
Rockaby
2000
as Old Woman
Victoria Wood with All the Trimmings
2000
as Mrs. Cratchit
Tom's Midnight Garden
1999
as Aunt Melbourne
The Strange Case of Delfina Potocka
1999
as Delfina / Paulina
Wives and Daughters
1999
as Mrs Hamley
Alice Through the Looking Glass
1998
as White Queen
Talking Heads 2
1998
Carrington
1995
as Lady Ottoline Morrell
Landscape
1995
as Beth
Kavanagh Q.C.
1995
as Barbara Watkins
The Deep Blue Sea
1994
as Hester Collyer
The Secret Rapture
1993
as Marion French
The Return of the Borrowers
1993
as Homily
Blame It on the Bellboy
1992
as Patricia Fulford
Screaming
1992
The Borrowers
1992
as Homily
Performance
1991
as Beth
Performance
1991
as Hester Collyer
4 Play
1989
as Julia
Talking Heads
1988
as Rosemary
Cry Freedom
1987
as Wendy Woods
Clockwise
1986
as Pat Garden
C.A.T.S. Eyes
1985
Laughterhouse
1984
as Alice Singleton
Ever Decreasing Circles
1984
The Tale of Beatrix Potter
1983
as Beatrix Potter
King Lear
1982
as Regan
The Tale of Beatrix Potter
1982
as Beatrix Potter
The French Lieutenant's Woman
1981
as Sonia
Country
1981
as Virginia Carlion
Othello
1981
as Desdemona
Pasmore
1980
as Helen
An Audience with...
1978
as Self
Joseph Andrews
1977
as Mrs. Wilton
Able's Will
1977
as Journalist
The Norman Conquests
1977
as Annie
King Lear
1975
as Regan
The Pearcross Girls
1973
as Anna Pearcross / Helen Charlesworth / Julia Pearcross / Lottie Merchant
The Song of Songs
1973
as Lilli Czepanek
Mrs. Warren's Profession
1972
as Vivie Warren
The Sullens Sisters
1972
as Rachel Sullens
Country Matters
1972
as Rachel Sullens
Play for Today
1970
as Virginia Carlion
BBC Play of the Month
1965
as Regan