Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1946-06-03
- Born Place: Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Also Known As:
Penelope Alice Wilton, Penelope Winton, Пенелопа Уилтон, 페네로프 윌튼
Penelope Wilton
Dame Penelope Alice Wilton DBE (born 3 June 1946 in Scarborough, England) is a distinguished English actress whose illustrious career spans theatre, television, and film. Trained at Drama Centre London (1965–1968), she made her stage debut in 1969 in major productions like King Lear and gained recognition in Harold Pinter's Betrayal, cementing her reputation in British theatre. Wilton became a household name with her role as Ann Bryce in the sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles (1984–1989), and further showcased her range in The Borrowers (1992–93), earning acclaim on television. In 2010, she took on the role of widowed Isobel Crawley in Downton Abbey (2010–2015), reprising the role in its feature films (Downton Abbey, A New Era) and returning for The Grand Finale (2025). Her portrayal earned Screen Actors Guild Ensemble awards and solidified her status in international period drama. Penelope’s film roles include Calendar Girls (2003), Shaun of the Dead (2004), Pride & Prejudice (2005), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2012), and The BFG (2016), where she portrayed Queen Elizabeth II—her performance even catching the attention of Steven Spielberg. On stage, she’s received multiple Olivier nominations and won Best Actress in 2015 for Taken at Midnight. Her personal honors include an OBE in 2004 and a Damehood in 2016 for her services to drama. Known for her eloquent voice and moral authority on-screen, Wilton continues to charm audiences. She remains active in contemporary projects like the Netflix series After Life and the children’s emotional resilience app “Embers the Dragon”. With a career spanning over five decades, Dame Penelope Wilton stands as an enduring icon of British drama—her upcoming return in Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025) a testament to her lasting appeal and talent.
