Miriam Margolyes

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Miriam Margolyes

Margolyes in 2008
Born (1941-05-18) 18 May 1941 (age 82)
Oxford, England
Citizenship
  • United Kingdom
  • Australia
Alma materNewnham College, Cambridge
Occupations
  • Actress
  • comedian
  • narrator
  • author
Years active1963–present
PartnerHeather Sutherland (1968–present)
Websitemiriammargolyes.com

Miriam Margolyes OBE (/ˈmɑːrɡəlz/ MAR-gə-leez; born 18 May 1941) is an English and Australian actress. She has gained prominence as a character actor on stage and screen. She received a BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993), and portrayed Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series (2002–2011). Margolyes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for Services to Drama.

After starting her career in theatre, she made her film acting debut in the British comedy A Nice Girl Like Me (1969). She has since appeared in Yentl (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Little Dorrit (1988), Romeo + Juliet (1996), and Being Julia (2004). She is also known for her voice roles in Babe (1995), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Mulan (1998), Happy Feet (2006), Flushed Away (2006), and Early Man (2018).

Margolyes is also known for her television appearances including Kizzy, Blackadder, Cold Comfort Farm (1995), Vanity Fair (1998), and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004). She is also known for her recurring roles as Prudence Stanley in Australian series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–2015) and Sister Mildred in the BBC series Call the Midwife (2018–2021). She has starred in productions in both the United Kingdom and Australia, including her 1989 one-woman show Dickens' Women and the Australian premiere of the 2013 play, I'll Eat You Last.

Margolyes has spent many years dividing her time between the United Kingdom, Australia and Italy. She became an Australian citizen in 2013.[1] She has also written three books, Dickens' Women (2012), her autobiography This Much is True (2021) and Oh Miriam (2023)

Early life[edit]

Margolyes was born in Oxford on 18 May 1941,[2] the only child of Joseph Margolyes (1899–1995), a Scottish physician and general practitioner from the Gorbals area of Glasgow,[3] and property-developer Ruth[4] (née Sandeman; 1905–1974),[5] daughter of a second-hand furniture dealer and auctioneer at Kirkdale, Liverpool, who later relocated to London. The maternal family surname changed from Sandeman to Walters before Margolyes' birth.[6][7][8] She grew up in a Jewish family.[9][10][11] Her ancestors moved to the UK from Belarus and Poland. Her maternal great-grandfather, Symeon Sandmann, was born in the Polish town of Margonin, which Margolyes visited in 2013. Her grandfather Margolyes was born in a small shtetl called Amdur (now Indura) in Belarus, which at that time was part of the Russian Empire.[12]

Margolyes attended Oxford High School and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she read English.[13] There, in her 20s, she began acting and appeared in productions by the Cambridge Footlights.[14] She represented Newnham College in the first series of University Challenge, where she may have been one of the first people to say "fuck" on British television;[15] she claims to have used the word in frustration on the show in 1963.[16][17][a]

Career[edit]

Margolyes reading Oliver Twist in 2006

With her versatile voice, Margolyes first gained recognition for her work as a voice artist. In the 1970s, she recorded a soft-porn audio called Sexy Sonia: Leaves from my Schoolgirl Notebook.[20] She performed most of the supporting female characters in the dubbed Japanese action TV series Monkey. She also worked with the theatre company Gay Sweatshop and provided voiceovers in the Japanese TV series The Water Margin (credited as Mirium Margolyes).

In 1974, she appeared with Kenneth Williams and Ted Ray in the BBC Radio 2 comedy series The Betty Witherspoon Show.[21]

Margolyes's first major role in a film was as Elephant Ethel in Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977). In the 1980s, she made appearances in Blackadder opposite Rowan Atkinson: these roles include the Spanish Infanta in The Black Adder, Lady Whiteadder in Blackadder II and Queen Victoria in Blackadder's Christmas Carol. In 1986, she played a major supporting role in the BBC drama The Life and Loves of a She-Devil. She won the 1989 LA Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Flora Finching in the film Little Dorrit (1988). On American television, she headlined the short-lived 1992 CBS sitcom Frannie's Turn.[22] In 1994, she won the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993).[23]

In 1989, Margolyes co-wrote and performed a one-woman show, Dickens' Women, in which she played 23 characters from Dickens' novels.[24] In 2005 Margolyes hosted a ten-part BBC Four documentary, Dickens in America, which retraced Dickens's 1842 journey across the United States of America.[25]

Margolyes played Aunt Sponge and voiced the Glow-Worm in James and the Giant Peach (1996). She played the Nurse in Baz Luhrmann's Romeo + Juliet (1996). She voiced the rabbit character in the animated commercials for Cadbury's Caramel bars[26] and provided the voice of Fly the dog in the Australian-American family film Babe (1995).[27]

She played Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and again in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). In a 2011 interview on The Graham Norton Show, in regard to her Potter costars, Margolyes said that she got on well with Maggie Smith, but rather bluntly admitted that she "didn't like the one that died", referring to Richard Harris.[28]

In 2004, Margolyes played the role of Peg Sellers, the mother of Peter Sellers, in the Golden Globe winning film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers.[29][30]

Margolyes was one of the original cast of the London production of the musical Wicked opposite Idina Menzel in 2006, playing Madame Morrible, a role she played again on Broadway in 2008.[31]

In 2009, she appeared in a new production of Endgame by Samuel Beckett at the Duchess Theatre in the West End.[32]

Margolyes voiced the role of Mrs. Plithiver, a blind snake, in the 3D-animated-epic film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole (2010).

In 2011, Margolyes recorded a narrative for the album The Devil's Brides by klezmer musician-ethnographer Yale Strom.[33]

Margolyes played recurring character Prudence Stanley in the Australian-based TV series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries from 2012 to 2015.

In 2014, she voiced Nana in the Disney Junior animated series Nina Needs to Go![34]

In January 2016, Margolyes appeared in The Real Marigold Hotel, a travel documentary in which a group of eight celebrities traveled to India to see whether retirement would be more rewarding there than in the UK.[35] The series was reprised for two Christmas Specials The Real Marigold On Tour, from Florida and Kyoto.[36] She narrated the 2016 ITV documentary about Lady Colin Campbell entitled Lady C and the Castle.[37]

In December 2017, Margolyes appeared in the second season of The Real Marigold On Tour to Chengdu and Havana.[38] She appeared in the first episode of the third series, in which she traveled to St Petersburg with Bobby George, Sheila Ferguson and Stanley Johnson.

In January 2018, Margolyes hosted a three-part series for the BBC titled Miriam's Big American Adventure, highlighting the citizens of the United States and the issues facing the country.[39] She voiced Queen Oofeefa in the film Early Man.

Since 2018, Margolyes has portrayed Mother Mildred in the BBC One drama, Call The Midwife.

She played Miss Shepherd in a 2019 production of The Lady in the Van for the Melbourne Theatre Company in Melbourne in Australia.[40]

In October 2021, she played Lillian opposite Helen Monks in the BBC Radio 4 sitcom Charlotte and Lillian, where she introduced her autobiography This Much Is True.[41] On 5 November she appeared on BBC One's The Graham Norton Show, where she discussed the book, explaining that it was written only because she "was paid an enormous amount of money". On 16 September the book was published by Hachette Books.[42]

In April 2022, Margolyes was the subject of the BBC documentary Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs in the Imagine... series, where she was interviewed by Alan Yentob.[43]

In November 2023, Margolyes appeared the voice of The Meep in "The Star Beast", the first of three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.[44][45]

She appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in February 2023.[46] Her hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "Charles Dickens and all his works".

Personal life[edit]

Margolyes is a lesbian.[47] On becoming an Australian citizen on Australia Day 2013,[48] she referred to herself as a "dyke" live on national television and in front of the then Prime Minister, Julia Gillard.[49] Since 1968, she has been in a relationship with Heather Sutherland,[27][50] an Australian now-retired professor of Indonesian studies.[51] They divide their time between homes in London and Kent in England, Robertson in Australia, and Montisi in Italy.[52][53][54][55]

Margolyes is a Patron of My Death My Decision, an organisation in the UK which seeks a more compassionate approach to dying, including the legal right to a medically assisted death, if that is a person's persistent wish.[56]

Margolyes is a supporter of Sense (the National Deafblind and Rubella Association) and was the host at the first Sense Creative Writing Awards, held at the Charles Dickens Museum in London in December 2006, where she read a number of works written by talented deafblind people.[57]

Margolyes stated in an interview with David Baddiel that she is an atheist.

Controversies[edit]

Margolyes has been accused on several occasions of making racist comments or jokes. During a 2012 appearance The Graham Norton Show, Margolyes said to will.i.am "I'm just fascinated by you, because, unfortunately, I don't know many black people in show business”, and went on to state that it was surprising that a rapper would be philanthropic.[58] In 2016, Margoyles was accused of making a racist joke which left a black man reportedly "humiliated" at the London Film Convention.[59] [60]

During a 2022 appearance on This Morning, Margolyes responded to one caller to "lose weight", telling another "not to mix with other cripples".[61] In a separate 2022 interview with Radio Times, Margolyes came to the defence of J. K. Rowling, commenting that "There is a spectrum and people can be anywhere along that. There isn't one answer to all these trans questions".[62] In November 2023, Margolyes said during another appearance on The Graham Norton Show that her position had changed after a discussion with Zoe Terakes, a trans Australian actor, and that she no longer believed that grammar was paramount over making someone happy by using their preferred pronouns.[63]

In 2023, Margoyles discussed her negative experience filming Little Shop of Horrors with Steve Martin,[64] something which Martin has publicly disputed.[65][clarification needed]

Political activism[edit]

Margolyes' political activism started at university. "I came from a very middle-class Jewish background, always Tory-voting", she later said. However, in the 1970s, she joined the Workers Revolutionary Party with other actors and Equity members such as Vanessa Redgrave, Frances de la Tour and Tom Kempinski.[66] She is a signatory of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.[67] Margolyes said, "What I want to try to do is to get Jewish people to understand what's really going on, and they don't want to hear it. If you speak to most Jews and say, 'Can Israel ever be in the wrong?' they say, 'No. Our duty as Jews is to support Israel whatever happens.' And I don't believe that. It is our duty as human beings to report the truth as we see it."[68] She is also a campaigner for the respite care charity Crossroads.[48]

Margolyes is a member of the Labour Party and is registered to vote in Vauxhall. In August 2015, she was a signatory to a letter criticising The Jewish Chronicle's reporting of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's alleged associations with antisemites.[69] In November 2019, she endorsed the Labour Party in the UK general election because of their policies on the National Health Service.[70][71] Later in the month, along with other public figures, she signed a letter supporting Corbyn and describing him as a "beacon of hope in the struggle against emergent far-right nationalism, xenophobia, and racism in much of the democratic world".[72]

Margolyes was very critical of the British Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic. She considered it "a public scandal" and "a disgrace". With the Prime Minister hospitalised suffering from COVID-19, Margolyes said "I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die."[73]

On 15 October 2022, after being interviewed by Justin Webb about the recently deceased Robbie Coltrane on BBC Radio 4's Today, she commented to the presenters that she had never expected to be in a seat that had just been vacated by the Chancellor of the Exchequer, Jeremy Hunt. She said, live on air, "When I saw him there I just said, 'You've got a hell of a job, the best of luck', and what I really wanted to say was 'Fuck you, you bastard!'"[74][75]

In popular culture[edit]

Author and comedian David Walliams says he used Margolyes as a model for the title character in his children's book Awful Auntie after an argument with her during a stage production, though he stressed that he has nothing against her and is a fan of her work.[76]

Filmography[edit]

Margolyes shortly after being presented with her Australian citizenship certificate by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 2013

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1969 A Nice Girl Like Me Pensione 'Mama'
1974 On the Game Narrator Uncredited
1975 Rime of the Ancient Mariner Dorothy Wordsworth
1977 Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers Elephant Ethel
Confessions from a Holiday Camp Blackbird Uncredited Voice Role
The Battle of Billy's Pond Tour Guide
1978 On a Paving Stone Mounted Performer
1980 The Apple Landlady
The Awakening Dr Kadira
1981 Reds Woman writing in notebook Uncredited role
1982 Crystal Gazing Newsreader
1983 Yentl Sarah
Scrubbers Jones
1984 Electric Dreams Ticket Girl
1985 The Good Father Jane Powell
Morons from Outer Space Doctor Wallace
1986 Little Shop of Horrors Dental Nurse
1987 Body Contact Mrs. Zulu
1988 Little Dorrit Flora Finching
1990 The Fool Mrs. Bowring
Pacific Heights Realtor
I Love You to Death Mrs. Boca
1991 The Butcher's Wife Gina
Dead Again Lady Uncredited role
1992 As You Like It Audrey
1993 The Age of Innocence Mrs. Mingott
Ed and His Dead Mother Mabel Chilton
1994 Immortal Beloved Nanette Streicherová
1995 Balto Grandma Rosy
Babe Fly the Female Sheepdog Voice role
1996 Different for Girls Pamela
Romeo + Juliet The Nurse
James and the Giant Peach Aunt Sponge/Glowworm Voice role
1998 Mulan The Matchmaker
Babe: Pig in the City Fly the Female Sheepdog Voice role; cameo
The First Snow of Winter Sean the duck Voice role
Left Luggage Mrs. Goldman
Candy Gisella
1999 Magnolia Faye Barringer Uncredited role
End of Days Mabel
Dreaming of Joseph Lees Signora Caldoni
Sunshine Rose Sonnenschein
2000 House! Beth
2001 Not Afraid, Not Afraid Performer
Cats & Dogs Sophie the Castle Maid
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Professor Pomona Sprout
Plots with a View Thelma & Selma
Alone Caseworker
2004 Being Julia Dolly de Vries
Ladies in Lavender Dorcas
Modigliani Gertrude Stein
End of the Line Bag Lady Short Film
Chasing Liberty Maria
2006 Happy Feet Mrs. Astrakhan Voice role
Flushed Away Rita's Grandma
2007 The Dukes Aunt Vee
2008 How To Lose Friends and Alienate People Mrs. Kowalski
2009 A Closed Book Mrs. Kilbride
2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Mrs. Plithiver Voice role
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Professor Pomona Sprout
2012 Sir Billi Baroness Chantal McToff Voice role
The Wedding Video Patricia
The Guilt Trip Anita
2014 The Legend of Longwood Lady Thyrza
Maya the Bee The Queen Voice role
2017 The Little Vampire 3D Wulftrud
The Man Who Invented Christmas Mrs. Fisk
2018 Early Man Queen Oofeefa Voice role
2019 H Is for Happiness Miss Bamford
2020 Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears Prudence Stanley
2023 My Happy Ending Judy
Pored tebe Vera

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1965 Theatre 625 Rita Episode: "Enter Solly Gold"
1967 Crossroads Mrs. Perkins 3 episodes
ITV Play of the Week Heidi Episode: "The English Climate"
Boy Meets Girl Maria Episode: "Flight of the Kingfisher"
1968 Dixon of Dock Green Anna Episode: "An Ordinary Man"
1969 Thirty-Minute Theatre Voice Episode: "The Boat to Addis Ababa"
ITV Playhouse Kathie Episode: "The Ha Ha"
1972 A Place in the Sun Maid Episode: "Achilles Heel"
Jackanory Playhouse The Witch Episode: "The Wily Wizard and the Wicked Witch"
1972–1973 Words and Pictures Various Voices 20 episodes
1973 Doctor in Charge Doris Episode: "Men without Women"
1974 World of Laughter Various parts 6 episodes
Fall of Eagles Anna Vyrubova Episode: "Tell the King the Sky is Falling"
1975 The Girls of Slender Means Jane Wright 3 episodes
1976 Christmas Box Mrs. Kaplan Television film
Angels June Morris 2 episodes
Kizzy Mrs. Doe 2 episodes
The Glittering Prizes Olive Wise TV serial
1976, 1982 Crown Court Marilyn Munro; Mrs. King 2 episodes
1976 The Water Margin Voice English dub of Japanese series
1977 Play for Today Veronica Episode: "The Thin Edge of the Wedge"
Spasms Rose Finn Television film
1978 Monkey Voice English dub of Japanese series Saiyûki
52 episodes
1980 The Lost Tribe Queenie TV serial
Tales of the Unexpected Mary Burge Episode: "Fat Chance"
1981 Take a Letter, Mr. Jones Maria 6 episodes
A Kick Up the Eighties Various roles 3 episodes
The History Man Melissa Tordoroff 3 episodes
1983 The Black Adder Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain Episode: "The Queen of Spain's Beard"
1984 Freud Baroness TV serial
1985 Oliver Twist Mrs. Corney TV serial
Honour, Profit and Pleasure Elephant and Castle Television film
1986 The Life and Loves of a She-Devil Nurse Hopkins 2 episodes
Blackadder II Lady Whiteadder Episode: "Beer"
A Little Princess Miss Amelia 6 episodes
Scotch and Wry Various Television film
1987 Poor Little Rich Girl:
The Barbara Hutton Story
Elsa Maxwell Television film
1988 Blackadder's Christmas Carol Queen Victoria Television Special
Mr Majeika Wilhelmina Worlock 2 episodes
1989 Murderers Among Us Mrs. Rajzman Television film
1990 Orpheus Descending Vee Talbot
The Finding Poll
Screen Two Nellie Episode: "Old Flames"
1991 Tonight at 8.30 Mrs. Wadhurst 2 episodes
1992 Stalin Nadezhda Krupskaya Television film
Frannie's Turn Frannie Escobar 6 episodes
1993 The Comic Strip Presents... Mother Episode: "Demonella"
1994 Just William Miss Polliter Episode: "William's Busy Day"
Moonacre Old Elspeth 6 episodes
1995 Cold Comfort Farm Mrs. Beetle Television film
1997 The IMAX Nutcracker Sugar Plum Short film
The Phoenix and the Carpet Cook BBC TV serial
The Place of Lions Miss Cole Television film
1998 Vanity Fair Miss Crawley TV serial
1998, 2001 Rugrats Shirley Finster Voice; 3 episodes
1998 The First Snow of Winter Sean McDuck Voice; UK version
Supply & Demand Chief Superintendent Edna Colley TV serial
2000 Dharma & Greg Chloe Episode: "Midwife Crisis"
2004 Agatha Christie's Marple Mrs. Price-Ridley Episode: The Murder at the Vicarage
The Life and Death of Peter Sellers Peg Sellers Television film, HBO
2005 Wallis & Edward Bessie Merryman Television film
Inconceivable Malva Episode: "Balls in Your Court"
2006 Jam & Jerusalem Mrs. Midge Season 2, Episode 6
2008 Kingdom Henny Episode 2.04
2009 The Sarah Jane Adventures Leef Slitheen-Blathereen Voice; 2 episodes
2010 Tinga Tinga Tales Giraffe and Squirrel Voice; Recurring Role
Merlin[77] Grunhilda Episode: "The Changeling"
2011 Doc Martin Shirley Episode: Born with a Shotgun
2012–2015 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Prudence Elizabeth Stanley 12 episodes
2013 Hebburn Millie Christmas special
2014 Nina Needs to Go! Nana Sheila Voice; 15 episodes
Trollied Rose Series 4
2016 Plebs Iona Episode: "The Cupid"
2016–2018 Rake Huntley-Brown 3 episodes
2016–2017 Bottersnikes and Gumbles Weathersnike 3 episodes
2017 Bucket Mim 4 episodes
Family Guy Right Eyeball Voice; Episode: "Emmy-Winning Episode"
2018–2021 Call the Midwife Sister Mildred/Mother Mildred 7 episodes
2019 101 Dalmatian Street Bessie Voice; Episode: "A Summer to Remember"
2020 The Windsors Queen Victoria Episode: #3.1
2021 Apple & Onion Queen Victoria Sponge Voice; Episode: "For Queen and Country"
2022 Dog Squad Sylvie Voice; 3 episodes[78]
2023 Doctor Who The Meep Voice; "The Star Beast"
Hilda Astrid Voice; 4 episodes
Mog's Christmas Aunt Voice[79]

Video Games[edit]

Wallace & Gromit – Beryl

Non-fiction television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2005 Dickens in America Herself 10 episodes
2016 The Real Marigold Hotel BBC TV documentary series
2018 Miriam's Big American Adventure BBC TV documentary series
2019 Miriam's Dead Good Adventure BBC TV documentary series
2020 Miriam's Big Fat Adventure BBC TV documentary series
Miriam Margolyes: Almost Australian ABC TV documentary series
2021, 2022 Miriam and Alan: Lost in Scotland C4 TV documentary series[80]
2022 Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs An Alan Yentob imagine...[81][82] documentary for BBC TV[83]
Miriam Margolyes Australia Unmasked ABC TV documentary series[84]
Miriam's Dickensian Christmas C4 TV documentary[85]
2023 Irish Road Trip with Miriam Margolyes SBS TV documentary series[86]

Notes

  • The Thief and the Cobbler (1993) – the voice of the Maiden from Mombasa (original version only; the character was not heard at all in the re-edited versions and another actor was never available in all the re-edited versions)
  • The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004) – Peg Sellers – note this film was shown in cinemas in the UK, Ireland, and Australia – it aired on cable television on the HBO network in the US.

Stage[edit]

Year Title Role Venue
1970 Fiddler on the Roof Matchmaker UK Tour
1972 Threepenny Opera Nelly Piccadilly Theatre, London
1974 Canterbury Tales Wife of Bath Bristol Old Vic
1975 Kennedy's Children Performer Arts Theatre, London
1976 The White Devil Zanche the Moor Old Vic Theatre, London
1978 Cloud Nine Performer Joint Stock/Royal Court Tour
1979 Flaming Bodies Psychiatrist ICA
1984 84 Charing Cross Road Helen Hanff Colchester
1985–87 Gertrude Stein and a Companion Gertrude Stein Edinburgh Festival
Hampstead Theatre
Australian Tour
1986 Man Equals Man Widow Begbick Almeida Theatre, London
1988 Orpheus Descending Vee Talbot Theatre Royal Haymarket, London
1989–91 Dickens' Women Performer Edinburgh Festival
Hampstead Theatre
Duke of York's Theatre, London
1993 She Stoops to Conquer Mrs. Hardcastle Queen's Theatre, London
1995 The Killing of Sister George June Buckridge Ambassadors Theatre, London
1999 The Cherry Orchard Madame Ranevskaya Theatre Royal, York
2001 Romeo and Juliet Nurse Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles
2001 The Vagina Monologues Performer Arts Theatre, London
2003 The Way of the World Lady Wishfort Sydney Theatre Company
2004 Blithe Spirit Madame Arcati Melbourne Theatre Company
2006 The Importance of Being Earnest Miss Prism Ahmanson Theater, Los Angeles
Brooklyn Academy of Music, New York
2006 Wicked Madame Morrible Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
2008 George Gershwin Theater, New York
2009 Realism Performer Melbourne Theatre Company
2009 Endgame Nell Duchess Theatre, London
2010 Me and My Girl The Duchess Crucible Theatre, Sheffield
2011 A Day in the Death of Joe Egg Grace Citizens' Theatre, Glasgow
2012 Dickens' Women Performer World Tour
2014 Neighbourhood Watch Ana Adelaide State Theatre
2014 I'll Eat You Last Sue Mengers Melbourne Theatre Company
2015 The Importance of Being Miriam Performer Australian Tour
2017 Madame Rubinstein Helena Rubinstein Park Theatre, London
2019 The Lady in the Van Miss Shepherd Melbourne Theatre Company
2019 Sydney & The Old Girl Nell Stock Park Theatre, London

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Refs
1989 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Supporting Actress Little Dorrit Won [87][88]
1991 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Dickens' Women Nominated [89]
1993 Sony Radio Award Best Actress On Radio The Queen and I Won [90]
1994 British Academy Film Award Best Supporting Actress The Age of Innocence Won [87][91]
1997 The Talkies Performer of the Year Oliver Twist Won [88]
2001 Audiofile's Earphones Award A Christmas Carol Won [92]
2007 Theatregoer's Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Wicked Won [93]
2010 Best Supporting Actress in a Play Endgame Won [94]
2018 Audiofile's Earphones Award Bleak House Won [95]

Margolyes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for Services to Drama.[96]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ However, at least two others said it on British television before that: Brendan Behan on Panorama in 1956 (although his drunken slurring was not understood), and an anonymous man who painted the railings on Stranmillis Embankment alongside the River Lagan in Belfast, who in 1959 told Ulster TV's magazine show, Roundabout, that his job was "fucking boring".[18][19]

References[edit]

  1. ^ Margolyes, Miriam. "Miriam Margolyes » Bio". Miriam Margolyes' official website. Archived from the original on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 21 September 2016.
  2. ^ "20 Questions with… Miriam Margolyes". WhatsOnStage. 28 June 2012. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 3 September 2022.
  3. ^ "BBC One – Matron, Medicine and Me, Series 1, Miriam Margolyes". BBC. Archived from the original on 7 March 2021. Retrieved 21 April 2020.
  4. ^ Newnham College Register, 1871–1971: 1951–1970, Newnham College, Cambridge (Cambridge University Press), 1990, pg. 130
  5. ^ England & Wales Birth registration index record for Ruth Sandeman, mother's maiden surname Posner, April–June quarter 1905, West Derby registration district, Lancashire, vol. 8B, pg. 450.
  6. ^ This Much Is True by Miriam Margolyes, John Murray Publishing, 2021.
  7. ^ "Miriam Margolyes: I had no secrets from my mother". TheGuardian.com. 22 June 2012. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  8. ^ "Liverpool's giant caring heart praised as foster campaign gathers pace". 3 February 2017. Archived from the original on 1 April 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
  9. ^ "Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes on her Gorbals roots, women in comedy and how Monty Python stars shunned her". Daily Record. Scotland. 2 November 2011. Archived from the original on 11 January 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  10. ^ Farndale, Nigel (11 October 2009). "Miriam Margolyes: 'I'm still a naughty schoolgirl at heart'". The Daily Telegraph. London. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  11. ^ Chitra Ramaswamy (6 August 2012). "As Miriam Margolyes prepares to perform her one-woman show, dedicated to the women in the victorian novelist's fiction, she reflects on her own fascinating life story". The Scotsman.
  12. ^ Margolyes, Miriam (2021). This Much is True. Hachette. ISBN 9781529379884.
  13. ^ Famous alumnae Archived 17 November 2015 at the Wayback Machine. University of Cambridge. Retrieved 3 January 2016.
  14. ^ Footlights Alumni Archived 14 August 2011 at the Wayback Machine. Footlights.org. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  15. ^ "Miriam Margolyes". Archived from the original on 25 July 2020. Retrieved 24 July 2020.
  16. ^ University Challenge The Story So Far – Documentary, Granada for BBC, aired by BBC 27 December 27, 2008, 14:15
  17. ^ "The Graham Norton Show: the 15 funniest guests". The Telegraph. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 13 February 2019 – via www.telegraph.co.uk.
  18. ^ Moran, Joe (16 August 2013). "Television's magic moments". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  19. ^ Brandreth, Gyles (2018). Have You Eaten Grandma?. Penguin. p. 135. ISBN 978-0241352656. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 31 March 2019.
  20. ^ "Enough Rope". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 1 October 2007. Archived from the original on 17 January 2011. Retrieved 5 January 2011.
  21. ^ "The Betty Witherspoon Show Series and Episode Guides – TV from RadioTimes". Radio Times. Archived from the original on 25 May 2019. Retrieved 25 May 2019.
  22. ^ "CBS Cancels 'Frannie's Turn'; NBC Axes 'The Round Table'". Los Angeles Times. 12 October 1992. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  23. ^ "1994 Film Actress in a Supporting Role | BAFTA Awards". awards.bafta.org. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  24. ^ Helen Sims (30 November 2007). "Miriam Margolyes on Dickens' Women". The Lumière Reader. Archived from the original on 23 April 2008. Retrieved 4 February 2018.
  25. ^ "Dickens in America". Nathaniel Parker Official Homepage. 11 March 2006. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 6 July 2022.
  26. ^ "Margolyes: Voice of a movie star" Archived 15 October 2022 at the Wayback Machine 31 December 2001, BBC News
  27. ^ a b Leah O'Brien (11 May 2010). "At home with Harry Potter star, Miriam Margolyes – Local News – News – Entertainment". Southern Highland News. Archived from the original on 7 April 2012. Retrieved 21 December 2011.
  28. ^ "The Graham Norton Show: the 15 funniest guests". The Daily Telegraph. 29 September 2017. Archived from the original on 13 February 2019. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  29. ^ "The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004)". BFI. Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  30. ^ "Golden Globes 2005". BBC (Press release). Archived from the original on 28 December 2021. Retrieved 28 December 2021.
  31. ^ Gans, Andrew (4 January 2008). "Margolyes to Join Broadway's Wicked Jan. 22". Playbill. Archived from the original on 1 February 2013. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  32. ^ Brief Encounter With … Miriam Margolyes – Endgame at Duchess Theatre – London – Interviews Archived 16 December 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  33. ^ Michael Church (15 January 2012). "Album: Yale Strom and Hot Pstromi, The Devil's Brides: Yiddish and Klezmer Song (Arc Music) – Reviews – Music". The Independent. Archived from the original on 15 May 2022. Retrieved 26 January 2012.
  34. ^ Wolfe, Jennifer (13 December 2013). "Disney Junior Greenlights 'Nina Needs to Go'". Animation World Network. Archived from the original on 22 January 2015. Retrieved 23 January 2015.
  35. ^ "BBC Two – The Real Marigold Hotel". BBC. Archived from the original on 28 January 2016. Retrieved 20 February 2016.
  36. ^ "The Real Marigold on Tour – BBC Two". BBC. Archived from the original on 29 December 2016. Retrieved 28 December 2016.
  37. ^ "Lady C and the Castle". Archived from the original on 16 September 2016. Retrieved 13 November 2017.
  38. ^ "The Real Marigold on Tour gets a "bumper" BBC1 run". Radio Times. 24 August 2017. Archived from the original on 1 December 2017. Retrieved 23 November 2017.
  39. ^ "Miriam's Big American Adventure – BBC One". BBC. Archived from the original on 31 January 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2018.
  40. ^ "The Lady in the Van". Melbourne Theatre Company. Archived from the original on 13 October 2019. Retrieved 19 October 2019.
  41. ^ "Charlotte and Lillian". BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 10 October 2021. Retrieved 10 October 2021.
  42. ^ "The Graham Norton Show – Series 29: Episode 7". Archived from the original on 6 November 2021. Retrieved 6 November 2021 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  43. ^ "imagine... – 2022: Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs". Archived from the original on 26 April 2022. Retrieved 26 April 2022 – via www.bbc.co.uk.
  44. ^ Griffin, Louise (15 November 2022). "Miriam Margolyes 'joins Doctor Who 60th anniversary' as cast gets even more iconic". Metro. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
  45. ^ "Miriam Margolyes Joins Doctor Who". Doctor Who. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 14 September 2023.
  46. ^ "The Museum of Curiosity – Series 17 – Episode 1". www.bbc.co.uk. BBC Sounds. Retrieved 4 March 2023.
  47. ^ Desert Island Discs – 28 September 2008 – Miriam Margolyes Archived 17 May 2009 at the Wayback Machine. BBC. (28 September 2008). Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  48. ^ a b Late Night Live – 10September2007 – Miriam Margolyes and Dickens' Women Archived 25 July 2009 at the Wayback Machine. Australian Broadcasting Corporation.au (10 September 2007). Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  49. ^ Groves, Nancy (6 November 2014). "Miriam Margolyes: 'I do say things possibly other people don't say'". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on 27 March 2019. Retrieved 26 March 2019.
  50. ^ Property Observer, "Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne blaze a trail to Southern Highlands retreat" Archived 5 January 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 December 2015
  51. ^ Sharon Verghis, "Miriam Margolyes: The ultimate character actress for Dickens", The Australian, 4 February 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  52. ^ Gabriella Coslovich, "Lunch with Miriam Margolyes", Canberra Times, 7 April 2012 Archived 22 July 2018 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 7 December 2015
  53. ^ Jane Cadzow, "Miss Margolyes Mysteries"
  54. ^ Lyell, Carrie (9 February 2016). "Miriam Margolyes: My Mother Was Utterly Appalled When I Came Out" Archived 3 August 2016 at the Wayback Machine, Diva Magazine. UK. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  55. ^ "At home with Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes" Archived 7 April 2012 at the Wayback Machine 11 May 2010, Southern Highland News
  56. ^ "About Us". mydeath-decision.org. Archived from the original on 2 March 2021. Retrieved 25 March 2021.
  57. ^ Celebrity supporters | Miriam Margolyes Archived 23 October 2008 at archive.today. Sense. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  58. ^ "Will.I.Am Baffled by 'Harry Potter' Actress Miriam Margolyes's Shocking Racist Comment". 24 June 2012.
  59. ^ "Harry Potter actress in race row for 'Jews and blacks discount' remark". 3 December 2016.
  60. ^ "Harry Potter actor accused of racist remarks at a film convention". 4 December 2016.
  61. ^ "Miriam Margolyes faces backlash over controversial advice". 30 November 2022.
  62. ^ "Miriam Margolyes says anger at JK Rowling over trans views is 'misplaced'". The Independent. 19 April 2022.
  63. ^ Murray, Tom (5 November 2023). "'That's right': Miriam Margolyes says trans actor changed her mind about pronouns". The Independent. Retrieved 18 March 2024.
  64. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (17 September 2023). "Miriam Margolyes says Steve Martin was 'horrid' on film set: 'Perhaps he was method acting'". The Independent. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  65. ^ Hume, Ashley (16 September 2023). "Steve Martin shuts down Miriam Margolyes' claim he hit her during filming 'Little Shop of Horrors'". Fox News. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  66. ^ Wiegand, Chris (9 February 2021). "'How many husbands have I had? Not enough!' Vanessa Redgrave meets Miriam Margolyes". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 18 February 2021.
  67. ^ "JFJFP Signatories" Archived 20 August 2012 at the Wayback Machine Jews for Justice for Palestinians Signatory List 11 August 2012
  68. ^ "Miriam Margolyes: 'I do say things possibly other people don't say'". The Guardian. 5 November 2014. Archived from the original on 3 February 2019. Retrieved 2 February 2019.
  69. ^ Dysch, Marcus (18 August 2015). "Anti-Israel activists attack JC for challenging Jeremy Corbyn". The Jewish Chronicle. Archived from the original on 16 September 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2017.
  70. ^ Siobhan, McNally (14 November 2019). "Call The Midwife star Miriam Margolyes backs Labour to help save the NHS". Daily Mirror. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  71. ^ Thorpe, Vanessa (24 November 2019). "Celebrities turn out to support Labour's vision for the arts". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 27 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  72. ^ Neale, Matthew (16 November 2019). "Exclusive: New letter supporting Jeremy Corbyn signed by Roger Waters, Robert Del Naja and more". NME. Archived from the original on 26 November 2019. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  73. ^ Mitchell, David (14 June 2020). "Miriam Margolyes has been cleared. Her 'crime'? Telling the truth". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 19 February 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2021. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die, I wanted him to die, and then I thought that reflects badly on me and I don't want to be the sort of person who wants people to die. So, then I wanted him to get better, which he did do, he did get better, but he didn't get better as a human being and I really would prefer that.
  74. ^ "Miriam Margolyes swears live on air about chancellor Jeremy Hunt". The Guardian website. 15 October 2022. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  75. ^ "Miriam Margolyes says 'f--- you, b------d' live on air in attack on Jeremy Hunt". The Telegraph website. 15 October 2022. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  76. ^ Walker, Tim (2 October 2014). "David Walliams: Miriam Margolyes is the real-life Awful Auntie". The Daily Telegraph. Archived from the original on 24 June 2018. Retrieved 4 April 2018.
  77. ^ Truitt, Brian (23 June 2010). "'Merlin' star Colin Morgan talks dragons and guest stars". USA Weekend. Archived from the original on 5 January 2013. Retrieved 24 June 2010.
  78. ^ "Dog Squad (TV Series)".
  79. ^ "Trailer and first look images revealed for Mog's Christmas on Channel 4". channel4.com/press. Retrieved 9 December 2023.
  80. ^ "Miriam Margolyes & Alan Cumming return to Channel 4 to get Lost in Scotland and Beyond | Channel 4". Archived from the original on 19 June 2022. Retrieved 15 June 2022.
  81. ^ "BBC One – imagine". Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  82. ^ Singh, Anita (25 April 2022). "Modern-day celebrities could learn a thing or two from outrageous octogenarian Miriam Margolyes". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 25 July 2022. Retrieved 25 July 2022.
  83. ^ "BBC One – imagine..., 2022, Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs". Archived from the original on 2 June 2022. Retrieved 2 June 2022.
  84. ^ "Two of Australia's favourite factual offerings are set to return to the ABC in 2022". Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 9 June 2022.
  85. ^ "Miriam's Dickensian Christmas". radiotimes.com. Retrieved 14 December 2022.
  86. ^ "Irish Road Trip With Miriam Margolyes". sbs.com.au. Retrieved 26 June 2023.
  87. ^ a b "Honours in the arts world". BBC News. 31 December 2001. Archived from the original on 28 May 2022. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  88. ^ a b "Miriam Margoyles comes to The Brewhouse". Somerset County Gazette. 11 May 2012. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  89. ^ Goodman, Joan (12 October 1993). "Miriam Margolyse Bubbles On and Off 'Innocence' Set : Movie: As the formidable dowager Mrs. Manson Mingott, the British actress brings verve and audacity to Martin Scorsese's film". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  90. ^ "The Queen And I on BBC Radio Four Extra". BBC Media Centre. Archived from the original on 8 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  91. ^ "Film | Actress in a Supporting Role in 1994". BAFTA. Archived from the original on 29 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  92. ^ "A Christmas Carol: Earphones Award Winner". AudioFile. 2000. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  93. ^ "Theatregoers Name Wicked 'Best New Musical'". londontheatredirect.com. 12 February 2007. Archived from the original on 6 June 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  94. ^ "WOS Awards: Full Winners' Acceptance Speeches". WhatsOnStage.com. 15 February 2010. Archived from the original on 26 January 2021. Retrieved 14 June 2020.
  95. ^ "Bleak House: Earphones Award Winner". AudioFile. June 2018. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 6 June 2020.
  96. ^ "No. 56430". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 2001. p. 11.

External links[edit]