Penny Downie

Acting

Penny Downie

Born January 1, 1954Queensland, Australia54 credits

Penny Downie is an Australian actress known for her stage and television appearances in the United Kingdom. From 2017 until 2021 she played Ellen in the British TV sitcom Back. She plays the US ambassador’s house manager Frances Munning in the 2023 Netflix political thriller series The Diplomat.

Known For

The Jester from Transylvania

The Jester from Transylvania

Movie

2024

The Diplomat
7.6

The Diplomat

TV

2023

The Chelsea Detective
6.3

The Chelsea Detective

TV

2022

Whitstable Pearl
6.7

Whitstable Pearl

TV

2021

Breathe
7.4

Breathe

Movie

2017

Absentia
7.2

Absentia

TV

2017

Filmography

The Jester from Transylvania
2024The Jester from Transylvaniaas Mrs. PenningtonMovie
The Diplomat
2023The Diplomatas Frances MunningTV
The Chelsea Detective
2022The Chelsea Detectiveas Hilary CarmichaelTV
Whitstable Pearl
2021Whitstable Pearlas IzzyTV
Breathe
2017Breatheas TidMovie
Absentia
2017Absentiaas Valerie ChandrisTV
Back
2017Backas EllenTV
Jackie
2016Jackieas Janet LeeMovie
The Crown
2016The Crownas Duchess of GloucesterTV
Houdini & Doyle
2016Houdini & Doyleas Mrs. SulzbachTV
London Has Fallen
2016London Has Fallenas Home Secretary Rose KenterMovie
Father Brown
2013Father Brownas Rev. Mother AugustineTV
Ripper Street
2012Ripper Streetas Flora GableTV
W.E.
2011W.E.as Dr. VargasMovie
Vera
2011Veraas VeronicaTV
Silk
2011Silkas Helen GuthrieTV
Downton Abbey
2010Downton Abbeyas Lady SinderbyTV
Hamlet
2009Hamletas GertrudeMovie
Invictus
2009Invictusas Mrs. PienaarMovie
Taken at the Flood
2006Taken at the Floodas Frances CloadeMovie
New Street Law
2006New Street Lawas Honor ScammelTV
All About George
2005All About Georgeas EvelynMovie
All About George
2005All About Georgeas EvelynTV
The Girl in the Café
2005The Girl in the Caféas RuthMovie
Falling
2005Fallingas Hazel KentMovie
Murder in Rome
2005Murder in Romeas CaeciliaMovie
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stocking
2004Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk Stockingas Judith MassinghamMovie
Murder in Suburbia
2004Murder in Suburbiaas ZenithTV
Byron
2003Byronas Lady Judith MilbankeMovie
Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mind
2003Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his Mindas Self - NarratorMovie
Byron
2003Byronas Lady Judith MilbankeTV
Spooks
2002Spooksas Prosecution QCTV
The Cazalets
2001The Cazaletsas SidTV
Waking the Dead
2001Waking the Deadas Bonnie YorkeTV
The House of Mirth
2000The House of Mirthas Judy TrenorMovie
Lost for Words
1999Lost for Wordsas Aileen LongdenMovie
Crime and Punishment
1998Crime and Punishmentas KaterinaMovie
A Certain Justice
1998A Certain Justiceas Venetia AldridgeTV
Food of Love
1997Food of Loveas MaryMovie
The Ice House
1997The Ice Houseas Phoebe MayburyTV
Madson
1996Madsonas AndertonTV
Kavanagh Q.C.
1995Kavanagh Q.C.as Mrs. Rosalind McEneryTV
Paradise
1994Paradiseas LindaMovie
Stanley and the Women
1991Stanley and the Womenas Susan DukeTV
Ex
1991Exas SheilaMovie
Agatha Christie's Poirot
1989Agatha Christie's Poirotas Frances CloadeTV
A Taste for Death
1988A Taste for Deathas Kate MiskinTV
Lionheart
1987Lionheartas MadelaineMovie
Inspector Morse
1987Inspector Morseas Nurse Wendy HazlittTV
Wetherby
1985Wetherbyas ChrissieMovie
Dalgliesh
1983Dalglieshas Kate MiskinTV
Crosstalk
1982Crosstalkas CindyMovie
Timewatch
1982Timewatchas CaeciliaTV
Minder
1979Minderas Dee RogersTV