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Penny Downie
ACTOR

Penny Downie

Known for The Crown · Agatha Christie's Poirot · Vera

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.

Snapshot 2026-10-15

Born
Jan 1, 1954
Birthplace
Queensland, Australia
Known For
Acting

Biography

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.

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Known For

TVThe Crown
The CrownDuchess of Gloucester · 2016
★ 8.2
TVAgatha Christie's Poirot
Agatha Christie's PoirotFrances Cloade · 1989
★ 8.2
TVVera
VeraVeronica · 2011
★ 7.4

Filmography

Movies

CrosstalkCindy
1982
WetherbyChrissie
1985
LionheartMadelaine
1987
ExSheila
1991
ParadiseLinda
1994
Food of LoveMary
1997
Crime and PunishmentKaterina
1998
Lost for WordsAileen Longden
1999
The House of MirthJudy Trenor
2000
ByronLady Judith Milbanke
2003
Vivian Stanshall: The Canyons of his MindSelf - Narrator
2003
Sherlock Holmes and the Case of the Silk StockingJudith Massingham
2004
FallingHazel Kent
2005
Murder in RomeCaecilia
2005
The Girl in the CaféRuth
2005
HamletGertrude
2009
InvictusMrs. Pienaar
2009
W.E.Dr. Vargas
2011
JackieJanet Lee
2016
London Has FallenHome Secretary Rose Kenter
2016
BreatheTid
2017
The Jester from TransylvaniaMrs. Pennington
2024
Boss CatDoris
2026
DA
Doobie and a Lil Cup of CoffeeIris (voice)

Television

MinderDee Rogers · 1 eps
1979
TimewatchCaecilia · 1 eps
1982
DalglieshKate Miskin · 1 eps
1983
Inspector MorseNurse Wendy Hazlitt · 1 eps
1987
A Taste for DeathKate Miskin · 6 eps
1988
C
CampaignSarah Copeland · 6 eps
1988
Agatha Christie's PoirotFrances Cloade · 1 eps
1989
Screen OneSheila · 1 eps
1989
Stanley and the WomenSusan Duke · 4 eps
1991
UnderbellyBarbara Manning · 4 eps
1992
S
StagesLinda · 1 eps
1994
Kavanagh Q.C.Mrs. Rosalind McEnery · 1 eps
1995
MadsonAnderton · 1 eps
1996
The Ice HousePhoebe Maybury · 2 eps
1997
A Certain JusticeVenetia Aldridge · 1 eps
1998
The CazaletsSid · 6 eps
2001
Waking the DeadBonnie Yorke · 2 eps
2001
SpooksProsecution QC · 1 eps
2002
ByronLady Judith Milbanke · 2 eps
2003
TrustAnita Matteo · 1 eps
2003
Murder in SuburbiaZenith · 1 eps
2004
All About GeorgeEvelyn · 6 eps
2005
New Street LawHonor Scammel · 14 eps
2006
Downton AbbeyLady Sinderby · 3 eps
2010
SilkHelen Guthrie · 1 eps
2011
VeraVeronica · 1 eps
2011
Ripper StreetFlora Gable · 1 eps
2012
Father BrownRev. Mother Augustine · 1 eps
2013
SiblingsDr Barker · 1 eps
2014
Houdini & DoyleMrs. Sulzbach · 1 eps
2016
The CrownDuchess of Gloucester · 9 eps
2016
AbsentiaValerie Chandris · 3 eps
2017
BackEllen · 12 eps
2017
Whitstable PearlIzzy · 1 eps
2021
The Chelsea DetectiveHilary Carmichael · 1 eps
2022
The DiplomatFrances Munning · 13 eps
2023

Photos

Penny Downie photo
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