Which actor portrayed Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers?

Prunella Scales portrayed Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers. Sybil is the wife of hotel owner Basil Fawlty, played by John Cleese, and is usually the more capable and composed half of the partnership.

The sitcom was created by Cleese and Connie Booth and ran for two series of six episodes, broadcast in 1975 and 1979. Sybil’s distinctive laugh, towering hairstyle and habit of addressing Basil by his first name became central parts of the show’s comic identity.

Scales was 43 when production began, while the character is described as 34 in the episode “The Germans.” She also reprised Sybil for BBC Children in Need sketches in 2007. A common mix-up is confusing Scales with Connie Booth, who played Polly Sherman, the hotel’s waitress and general assistant.