Dame Penelope Wilton needs little introduction. Platinum catches up with the acting royalty - who is currently playing the role of the Queen Mother in a new show – to talk about her career, longevity, and her passion for supporting those going through grief.
INTERVIEW: SUZANNE BAUM. IMAGES: DAVID CHIVERTON
With a career spanning almost six decades, Dame Penelope Wilton is one of the most successful actresses of our time. And at the age of 77, the multi-award winner across stage and screen is showing no signs of slowing down, with her latest role seeing her tread the boards of London’s Duke of York theatre in a comedy play about the Queen Mother.
Born in Scarborough, the actress – best known for starring in the BBC sitcom Ever Decreasing Circles; playing Homily in The Borrowers; and for her role as the widowed Isobel Crawley in the ITV drama Downton Abbey – is without doubt a national treasure.
And fans of Netflix’s After Life, where Wilton played a widow sharing a graveyard bench with Ricky Gervais’s grief-stricken Tony, will not be surprised to hear in real life she is exactly like that character; softly-spoken, sensitive and kind. In fact, opening up conversations around the topic of death is so important to her, that she is now behind a new campaign on behalf of The Good Grief Charity – of which she is patron – that aims to help improve awareness of and signposting to bereavement services across the UK.
With so much on her plate, Wilton still has time to enjoy her passions for reading and walking holidays, which she points to as keeping her fit and healthy.
Here’s what she had to say during a break in rehearsals for her latest play, Backstairs Billy...
Although I’m busy, I have always found my work to be stimulating and every job that has come my way I’ve loved, so I just take it all in my stride. A lot of preparing for a role involves me researching the story and character I am playing so I find that to be really interesting. I don’t see myself as juggling things; it’s more a matter of just carrying on and working hard. It obviously helps that I enjoy what I do.
After more than 55 years in the industry, I have some fond memories. I can’t really single out one show as I have enjoyed every job, but I feel lucky to have worked with so many amazing people, including my role in Doctor Who where I acted with David Tennant. And I have fond memories of working with Peter O’Toole too, amongst many others. The peop
