Achieved her greatest success on TV as the nosy, shrewish wife "Sybil Fawlty" on the classic John Cleese comedy "Fawlty Towers" (1975).
British classical stage actress trained at both the Old Vic Theatre School in London and the Herbert Berghof Studio in New York.
Daughter-in-law of Lockwood West.
Has a photographic memory.
Has a step-daughter named Juliet West.
In October of 2003, she became seriously ill and was taken to the hospital for emergency heart operation (angioplasty).
Longtime friend of "Fawlty Towers" (1975) co-star, comedian John Cleese.
Mother of Joseph West and Samuel West.
She played Queen Victoria in Looking for Victoria (2003) (TV). Her son Samuel West had previously played Prince Albert Victor Edward, Duke of Clarence, Queen Victoria's grandson, in both "Edward the King" (1975) and The Ripper (1997) (TV) while her husband Timothy West played the eponymous role of Queen Victoria's eldest son and eventual successor in the former.
She was awarded the C.B.E. (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in 1992 for her services to drama while her husband, Timothy West, was awarded his C.B.E. in 1984.
She was awarded the Patricia Rothermere Award at the 2001 London Evening Standard Theatre Award for her contributions to British Theatre.