Release CalendarTop 250 MoviesMost Popular MoviesBrowse Movies by GenreTop Box OfficeShowtimes & TicketsMovie NewsIndia Movie Spotlight
    What's on TV & StreamingTop 250 TV ShowsMost Popular TV ShowsBrowse TV Shows by GenreTV News
    What to WatchLatest TrailersIMDb OriginalsIMDb PicksIMDb Podcasts
    OscarsABFFPride MonthOutfest OutfrontsSTARmeter AwardsAwards CentralFestival CentralAll Events
    Born TodayMost Popular CelebsMost Popular CelebsCelebrity News
    Help CenterContributor ZonePolls
For Industry Professionals
  • All
  • Titles
  • TV Episodes
  • Celebs
  • Companies
  • Keywords
  • Advanced Search
Watchlist
Sign In
Sign In
New Customer? Create account
  • Fully supported
  • English (United States)
    Partially supported
  • Français (Canada)
  • Français (France)
  • Deutsch (Deutschland)
  • हिंदी (भारत)
  • Italiano (Italia)
  • Português (Brasil)
  • Español (España)
  • Español (México)
  • Biography
  • Awards
  • Trivia
IMDbPro

Penelope Wilton

  • Actress
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
Penelope Wilton at an event for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
Watch Trailer [OV]
Play trailer2:34
The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023)
24 Videos
99+ Photos
Penelope Wilton was born on 3 June 1946 in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK. She is an actress, known for The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011), Shaun of the Dead (2004) and Match Point (2005). She was previously married to Ian Holm and Daniel Massey.
BornJune 3, 1946
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornJune 3, 1946
IMDbProStarmeterSee rank
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
  • Awards
    • 3 wins & 4 nominations

Photos105

Maggie Smith and Penelope Wilton in Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
Ricky Gervais and Penelope Wilton in After Life (2019)
Penelope Wilton in Zoo (2017)
Lalor Roddy and Penelope Wilton in Zoo (2017)
Penelope Wilton in Zoo (2017)
Penelope Wilton in Zoo (2017)
Tom Courtenay, Michiel Huisman, Penelope Wilton, Katherine Parkinson, Lily James, and Kit Connor in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
Rebecca Hall, Penelope Wilton, Rafe Spall, and Ruby Barnhill in The BFG (2016)
Rebecca Hall, Penelope Wilton, and Rafe Spall in The BFG (2016)
Penelope Wilton, Rafe Spall, and Ruby Barnhill in The BFG (2016)
Rebecca Hall and Penelope Wilton in The BFG (2016)
Penelope Wilton in The BFG (2016)

Known for

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011)
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
7.2
  • Jean Ainslie
  • 2011
Kate Ashfield, Nick Frost, and Simon Pegg in Shaun of the Dead (2004)
Shaun of the Dead
7.9
  • Barbara
  • 2004
Match Point (2005)
Match Point
7.6
  • Eleanor Hewett
  • 2005
Richard Gere, David Strathairn, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, and Tina Desai in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
6.5
  • Jean Ainslie
  • 2015

Credits

Edit
IMDbPro

Actress

  • Visitation
    • In Production
  • Jim Broadbent and Penelope Wilton in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (2023)
    The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry
    • Maureen
    • 2023
  • Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Hugh Dancy, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nicol, Douglas Reith, Dominic West, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Michelle Dockery, Harry Hadden-Paton, Laura Haddock, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Laura Carmichael, and Michael Fox in Downton Abbey: A New Era (2022)
    Downton Abbey: A New Era
    • Isobel Merton
    • 2022
  • Ricky Gervais, Kerry Godliman, and Anti in After Life (2019)
    After Life
    • Anne
    • TV Series
    • 2019–2022
  • Colin Firth, Jason Isaacs, Kelly Macdonald, Matthew Macfadyen, Penelope Wilton, and Johnny Flynn in Operation Mincemeat (2021)
    Operation Mincemeat
    • Hester Leggett
    • 2021
  • Tom Courtenay, Penelope Wilton, Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Gemma Arterton, Lucas Bond, and Dixie Egerickx in Summerland (2020)
    Summerland
    • Older Alice
    • 2020
  • David Thewlis and Sally Hawkins in Eternal Beauty (2019)
    Eternal Beauty
    • Vivian
    • 2019
  • Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Imelda Staunton, Hugh Bonneville, Jim Carter, Raquel Cassidy, Brendan Coyle, Kevin Doyle, Joanne Froggatt, Matthew Goode, Phyllis Logan, Lesley Nicol, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Robert James-Collier, Michelle Dockery, Harry Hadden-Paton, Sophie McShera, Tuppence Middleton, Laura Carmichael, and Michael Fox in Downton Abbey (2019)
    Downton Abbey
    • Isobel Merton
    • 2019
  • Tom Courtenay, Matthew Goode, Michiel Huisman, Penelope Wilton, Glen Powell, Katherine Parkinson, Jessica Brown Findlay, and Lily James in The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (2018)
    The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
    • Amelia Maugery
    • 2018
  • Zoo (2017)
    Zoo
    • Denise Austin
    • 2017
  • Brexit Shorts: The End (2017)
    Brexit Shorts: The End
    • Helen
    • Short
    • 2017
  • Brief Encounters (2016)
    Brief Encounters
    • Pauline
    • TV Mini Series
    • 2016
  • Mark Rylance and Ruby Barnhill in The BFG (2016)
    The BFG
    • The Queen
    • 2016
  • Elizabeth McGovern, Maggie Smith, Hugh Bonneville, Brendan Coyle, Joanne Froggatt, Penelope Wilton, Allen Leech, Michelle Dockery, Laura Carmichael, Lily James, Fifi Hart, and Oliver Barker in Downton Abbey (2010)
    Downton Abbey
    • Isobel Crawley
    • TV Series
    • 2010–2015
  • Richard Gere, David Strathairn, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Celia Imrie, Penelope Wilton, Dev Patel, and Tina Desai in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2015)
    The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
    • Jean Ainslie
    • 2015
  • Gugu Mbatha-Raw in Belle (2013)
    Belle
    • Lady Mary Murray
    • 2013
  • In-development projects at IMDbPro

Videos24

The BFG
Clip 0:30
The BFG
The BFG
Clip 0:52
The BFG
'BFG' Director Steven Spielberg on Finding Talent
Interview 2:10
'BFG' Director Steven Spielberg on Finding Talent
Trailer [OV]
Trailer 2:34
Trailer [OV]
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:30
Official Trailer
Official Trailer
Trailer 1:28
Official Trailer
Trailer #2
Trailer 2:23
Trailer #2
Teaser Trailer
Trailer 1:51
Teaser Trailer
Trailer #1
Trailer 2:32
Trailer #1
Eternal Beauty
Trailer 2:07
Eternal Beauty
Official Trailer
Trailer 2:24
Official Trailer
Zoo
Trailer 2:00
Zoo

Personal details

Edit
  • Alternative names
    • Dame Penelope Wilton
  • Born
    • June 3, 1946
    • Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
  • Spouses
      Ian HolmMarch 1991 - 2001 (divorced)
  • Parents
      Clifford Wilton
  • Relatives
      Bill Travers(Aunt or Uncle)
  • Other works
    Plays "Sonya" in "Afterplay", a play by Brian Friel (Gielgud Theatre, London, England, UK/ Gate Theatre, Dublin).
  • Publicity listings
    • 2 Interviews
    • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

Did you know

Edit
  • Trivia
    She was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2004 Queen's New Year Honours List for her services to drama.
  • Quotes
    I didn't come into the business till the late sixties but I've seen a lot of changes in the 35 years since. Mostly I mourn the demise of the repertory companies - that's a very sad thing from the point of view of the training of actors.

Related news

Contribute to this page

Suggest an edit or add missing content
  • Learn more about contributing
Edit page

More to explore

Production art
List
The Best Things to Watch in June
See the list
Production art
Photos
See These Trending Actors in Early Roles
Can you place the face?

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Demo reel thumbnail
Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel

Add demo reel with IMDbPro

Make your IMDb page stand out by adding a demo reel
Upload your demo reel
Demo reel thumbnail

How much have you seen?

Keep track of how much of Penelope Wilton’s work you have seen. Go to your list.
Production art
Photos
LGBTQIA+ Power Couples of Hollywood
See the photos

Recently viewed

Please enable browser cookies to use this feature. Learn more.
Get the IMDb App
Sign in for more accessSign in for more access
  • Get the IMDb App
  • Help
  • Site Index
  • IMDbPro
  • Box Office Mojo
  • IMDb Developer
  • Press Room
  • Advertising
  • Jobs
  • Conditions of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Your Ads Privacy Choices
IMDb, an Amazon company

© 1990-2023 by IMDb.com, Inc.