Miriam Margolyes facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Miriam Margolyes
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Margolyes in 2008
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| Born | 18 May 1941 Oxford, England
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| Education | Oxford High School |
| Alma mater | University of Cambridge |
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| Years active | 1963–present |
| Political party | Labour |
| Partner(s) | Heather Sutherland (1968–present) |
Miriam Margolyes (/ˈmɑːrɡəliːz/ mar-GƏ-leez; born May 18, 1941) is a famous British and Australian actress. She is known for playing many different kinds of characters in movies, TV shows, and on stage. You might know her best as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter films! She also won an award called the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her acting in the movie The Age of Innocence (1993). In 2002, she was given a special honor called the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her amazing work in drama.
Miriam started her acting journey in theatre. Later, she moved into films, with her first small role in A Nice Girl Like Me (1969). She has appeared in many other movies like Yentl (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), and Romeo + Juliet (1996). She has also lent her voice to popular animated films such as Babe (1995), James and the Giant Peach (1996), and Mulan (1998).
On television, Miriam has been in shows like Blackadder (1983–1988) and Doctor Who (2023). She also had regular roles as Prudence Stanley in Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–2015) and Sister Mildred in Call the Midwife (2018–2021). Miriam has also toured with her own one-woman show, Dickens' Women, where she played many characters from Charles Dickens' books. She has also written two books about her life, called This Much is True (2021) and Oh Miriam! (2023).
Contents
Early Life and Education
Miriam Margolyes was born in Oxford, England, on May 18, 1941. She grew up in a Jewish family and was an only child. Her father was a doctor from Glasgow, Scotland. Her mother was a property developer.
Miriam went to Oxford High School. She then studied at Newnham College at the University of Cambridge. It was there, in her twenties, that she started acting. She performed in plays with the Cambridge Footlights, a famous comedy group. She even represented her college on the TV show University Challenge.
Acting Career Highlights
Miriam Margolyes is known for her amazing voice. Early in her career, she became famous for her voice acting. In 1972, she worked on the TV show Sam on Boffs' Island. She also voiced many female characters in the English version of the Japanese TV series Monkey.
Her first big movie role was in Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers (1977). In the 1980s, she appeared in the comedy series Blackadder with Rowan Atkinson. She played different characters like the Spanish Infanta and Queen Victoria. In 1989, she won an award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Flora Finching in the film Little Dorrit (1988).
In 1994, Miriam won a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress. This was for her role as Mrs. Mingott in Martin Scorsese's movie The Age of Innocence (1993).
She played a dental nurse in the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors. Miriam has also voiced characters in many animated films. She was Aunt Sponge and the Glow-Worm in James and the Giant Peach (1996). She also voiced Fly the dog in the movie Babe (1995).
Miriam played Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) and again in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 (2011). She once said that she got along well with Maggie Smith, another Harry Potter star. In 2024, Miriam shared her thoughts about adult Harry Potter fans, saying they "should be over that by now." This led to some discussion among fans online.
In 2004, Miriam played Peg Sellers, the mother of actor Peter Sellers, in the film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. She was also part of the original cast of the musical Wicked in London in 2006, playing Madame Morrible. She later played this role on Broadway in 2008.
Miriam has also hosted TV series where she travels and explores different places. These include Miriam's Big American Adventure (2018) and Miriam's Big Fat Adventure (2020). Since 2018, she has played Mother Mildred in the BBC One drama, Call The Midwife. In 2023, she voiced The Meep in the Doctor Who 60th anniversary special, "The Star Beast".
Personal Life
Miriam Margolyes has spent a lot of time living in Australia. She became an Australian citizen on Australia Day in 2013, but she still has her British citizenship too.
She is in a long-term relationship with Heather Sutherland, an Australian retired professor. They have been together since 1968. They divide their time between homes in England, Australia, and Italy.
Charity Work
Miriam supports several charities. She is a patron of My Death My Decision, an organization in the UK that wants a more compassionate approach to dying. She also supports Sense, a charity for deafblind people. In 2006, she hosted their Creative Writing Awards. Miriam is also a supporter of Crossroads, a charity that helps people who care for others.
Political Views
Miriam Margolyes has been interested in politics since her university days. She is a member of the Labour Party in the UK. She has spoken out about different political issues. For example, she was critical of the British Government's handling of the coronavirus pandemic.
Miriam has also shared her views on other topics. In 2022, she defended J. K. Rowling regarding discussions about gender identity. However, in 2023, she said her position had changed after talking with a trans actor. She now believes that using someone's preferred pronouns is more important than strict grammar rules.
Miriam is a supporter of Jews for Justice for Palestinians. She believes it is important for Jewish people to understand what is happening in the world. In April 2024, she released a video criticizing the Israeli government's actions in Gaza. She called for a ceasefire and urged Jewish people to speak out against the violence.
Awards and Honors
Miriam Margolyes has received several awards for her acting:
- In 1989, she won the Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Award for Supporting Actress for Little Dorrit.
- In 1994, she won the British Academy Film Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Age of Innocence.
- She won the Theatregoer's Choice Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for Wicked in 2007.
- She also won several Audiofile's Earphones Awards for her audiobook narrations, including for A Christmas Carol and Bleak House.
In 2002, Miriam Margolyes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her contributions to drama.
Images for kids
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Miriam Margolyes shortly after being presented with her Australian citizenship certificate by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 2013
See also
In Spanish: Miriam Margolyes para niños
