Penelope Wilton_
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
"Born "
Born
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Birthday
Updated Feb 20, 2026
Details
Known For
Actor
Occupations
Film actor, Television actor, Stage actor
Birthday
(Monday)
Birthplace
Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK
Nationality
Citizenship
United Kingdom
Languages
English
Spouses
Daniel Massey (1975-1984), Ian Holm (1991-2001)
Education
Drama Centre London
Zodiac Sign
♊ Gemini
Chinese Zodiac
狗 Dog
Popularity
Tier B -- 60,857 Wikipedia views/month
DROPTHE_ GOSSIP
Career
Career spanning 48 years (1977-2025)
Screen debut
First screen credit at age 30
Year context
Born in 1946 -- First meeting of the United Nations General Assembly; Harry S. Truman was US president
Year 1946 →
DROPTHE GOOD_
16
Notable
out of 100
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Human Impact
0
Innovation
0
Giving
0
Sustainability
100
Cultural Uplift
57
Public Vote
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Filmography (20)
AWARDS (3)
B
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
WON
B
Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire
WON
B
Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress
WON
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 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).
Connections (4)
Related People
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Penelope Wilton?
Penelope Wilton is 79 years old, born on .
Where was Penelope Wilton born?
Penelope Wilton was born in Scarborough, North Yorkshire, England, UK.
What movies or shows has Penelope Wilton been in?
Penelope Wilton has 20 credits in our database. Notable titles include Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale (2025), After Life (2019), Downton Abbey (2019), The BFG (2016), Belle (2013).
What is Penelope Wilton known for?
Penelope Wilton is primarily known as an actor. 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…
Where can I find more information about Penelope Wilton?
You can find more about Penelope Wilton on IMDB, TMDB, Wikidata. Their full profile and filmography is available on this page.
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