Penny Downie
Biography
Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. She was trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney until 1974. Downie initially played roles in Australian television series. She has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including Koruna, Panství Downton, and The Diplomat. Downie has a known credit of 58 acting roles. She has been active in the entertainment industry for over 50 years, having been born in 1954. Downie has also been recognized as a female actress from Queensland, Australia.
Career overview
Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her work in stage and television productions in the United Kingdom. She has appeared in various British TV sitcoms, including Back, where she played the role of Ellen from 2017 until 2021. Downie has also appeared in a 2023 Netflix series, The Diplomat, where she portrays the US ambassador's house manager, Frances Munning.
Downie's training as a performer began at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney, where she studied acting until 1974. She initially gained experience in Australian television series before moving to the United Kingdom to pursue further opportunities. Downie's acting credits span multiple productions, although specific details about her filmography are not provided in the available sources.
Penny Downie's acting career has spanned several decades, with a focus on stage and television work in the United Kingdom. Her performances have been recognized in various countries, including the Czech Republic, where she is known for her roles in films such as Koruna and Panství Downton, and in diplomatic series Diplomatické vztahy.
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Frequent co-stars
Career timeline
Full Filmography
59 titles- Boss Cat (2026) as Doris
- The Jester from Transylvania (2024) as Mrs. Pennington
- The Diplomat (2023) as Frances Munning
- The Chelsea Detective (2022) as Hilary Carmichael
- Whitstable Pearl (2021) as Izzy
- Absentia (2017) as Valerie Chandris
- Breathe (2017) as Tid
- Back (2017) as Ellen
- The Crown (2016) as Duchess of Gloucester
- London Has Fallen (2016) as Home Secretary Rose Kenter
- Houdini & Doyle (2016) as Mrs. Sulzbach
- Jackie (2016) as Janet Lee
- Siblings (2014) as Dr Barker
- Father Brown (2013) as Rev. Mother Augustine
- Ripper Street (2012) as Flora Gable
- Vera (2011) as Veronica
- Silk (2011) as Helen Guthrie
- W.E. (2011) as Dr. Vargas
- Downton Abbey (2010) as Lady Sinderby
- Invictus (2009) as Mrs. Pienaar
- Hamlet (2009) as Gertrude
- New Street Law (2006) as Honor Scammel
- All About George (2005) as Evelyn
- The Girl in the Café (2005) as Ruth
- All About George (2005) as Evelyn
- Falling (2005) as Hazel Kent
- Murder in Rome (2005) as Caecilia
- Murder in Suburbia (2004) as Zenith
- Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking (2004) as Judith Massingham
- Trust (2003) as Anita Matteo
- Byron (2003) as Lady Judith Milbanke
- Byron (2003) as Lady Judith Milbanke
- Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mind (2003) as Self - Narrator
- Spooks (2002) as Prosecution QC
- Waking the Dead (2001) as Bonnie Yorke
- The Cazalets (2001) as Sid
- The House of Mirth (2000) as Judy Trenor
- Lost for Words (1999) as Aileen Longden
- Crime and Punishment (1998) as Katerina
- A Certain Justice (1998) as Venetia Aldridge
- The Ice House (1997) as Phoebe Maybury
- Food of Love (1997) as Mary
- Madson (1996) as Anderton
- Kavanagh Q.C. (1995) as Mrs. Rosalind McEnery
- Paradise (1994) as Linda
- Underbelly (1992) as Barbara Manning
- Stanley and the Women (1991) as Susan Duke
- Ex (1991) as Sheila
- Agatha Christie's Poirot (1989) as Frances Cloade
- Screen One (1989) as Sheila
- A Taste for Death (1988) as Kate Miskin
- Campaign (1988) as Sarah Copeland
- Inspector Morse (1987) as Nurse Wendy Hazlitt
- Lionheart (1987) as Madelaine
- Wetherby (1985) as Chrissie
- Dalgliesh (1983) as Kate Miskin
- Timewatch (1982) as Caecilia
- Crosstalk (1982) as Cindy
- Minder (1979) as Dee Rogers
Frequently Asked Questions
What movies or TV shows is Penny Downie best known for?
Penny Downie is widely recognized for notable roles and projects including Boss Cat (2026), The Diplomat (2023), The Chelsea Detective (2022), Absentia (2017).
When and where was Penny Downie born?
Penny Downie was born on January 1, 1954 in Queensland, Australia.
How many credits does Penny Downie have?
Penny Downie has accumulated over 59 film and television credits across a career spanning from 1979 to 2026.
What is Penny Downie's background in cinema and television?
Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. She was trained at the National Institute of Dramatic Art in Sydney until 1974. Downie initially played roles in Australian television series. She has appeared in a number of films and television shows, including...