Penelope Wilton

Penelope Wilton

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).

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Penelope Wilton Movies

Discover the best Penelope Wilton movies. Explore the complete filmography, including top-rated classics, newest releases, and highest-grossing films starring Penelope Wilton ranked by year and score.

1

Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025)

Drama Romance
A scandal threatens to unravel the Crawley family's carefully constructed reputation just as financial pressures mount. With their world cracking at the foundations, the inhabitants of Downton Abbey must confront...
Score 7.1
2

Operation Mincemeat (2022)

Drama History War
It sounds like the plot of a fever dream: dress a corpse as a British officer, fill his briefcase with forged military documents, and let the tides of wartime Spain...
Score 6.5
3

The History Boys (2006)

Drama
A rowdy pack of gifted sixth formers at a Yorkshire grammar school navigate the competitive gauntlet of Oxbridge entrance exams. Their world collides when a charismatic English teacher, a test-focused...
Score 6.6
4

Match Point (2005)

Drama Romance Thriller
A tennis instructor infiltrates London's moneyed elite through his student, securing marriage to the family's daughter and the comfortable life he's always craved. But when he encounters his wife's cousin's...
Score 7.4
5

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Drama Romance
In the rolling countryside of Georgian England, the Bennet household hums with a particular kind of anxiety. Five daughters, a fluttering mother, and an entail that could strip them of...
Score 8.1
6

Shaun of the Dead (2004)

Comedy Horror
Shaun is a directionless Londoner whose days blur together in the comfort of his local pub, his girlfriend's presence, and his mother's fussing. When the undead begin shambling through suburbia...
Score 7.5

Penelope Wilton TV Shows

Browse the ultimate list of Penelope Wilton TV shows. Find top-rated television series, critically acclaimed dramas, and hit shows starring Penelope Wilton.

1

After Life (2019)

Comedy Drama
When grief strips away every reason to be polite, what fills the space? For Tony, a small-town obituary writer who loses his wife to cancer, the answer is a kind...
Score 7.9
2

Downton Abbey (2010)

Drama
Upstairs and downstairs collide in the grand halls of a Yorkshire estate, where the Crawley family and their servants navigate love, loss, and a Britain changing faster than anyone can...
Score 8.1

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the highest-rated movies starring Penelope Wilton? +
According to aggregate user scores, the absolute best titles starring Penelope Wilton are Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale, Operation Mincemeat, and The History Boys.
How many movies and TV shows has Penelope Wilton starred in? +
Our database currently features a comprehensive filmography of 8 titles starring Penelope Wilton, ranging from their earliest roles to the newest releases.
Are the movies starring Penelope Wilton worth watching? +
Yes! The overall filmography starring Penelope Wilton maintains a strong average user rating of 7.4 out of 10 across all tracked titles.