Miriam Margolyes

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Miriam Margolyes (Template:IPAc-en Script error: No such module "Respell".; born 18 May 1941) is a British-Australian actress. Known for her work as a character actor across film, television, and stage, she received the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs. Mingott in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence (1993), and achieved international prominence with her portrayal of Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series (2001–2011). 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, Margolyes made the transition to film with a small part in the British comedy A Nice Girl Like Me (1969). Subsequent credits include Yentl (1983), Little Shop of Horrors (1986), Little Dorrit (1988), I Love You to Death (1990), Immortal Beloved (1994), Balto (1995), Different for Girls, Romeo + Juliet (both 1996), Magnolia, End of Days (both 1999), Being Julia, and Ladies in Lavender (both 2004). She voiced roles in Babe (1995), James and the Giant Peach (1996), Mulan (1998), Happy Feet (2006), Flushed Away (2006), and Early Man (2018).

Margolyes appeared in the television films Poor Little Rich Girl: The Barbara Hutton Story (1987), Orpheus Descending (1990), Stalin (1992), Cold Comfort Farm (1995), and The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004). Her other credits include Blackadder (1983–1988), Vanity Fair, Supply & Demand (both 1998), and Doctor Who (2023), as well as the recurring roles of Prudence Stanley in the Australian drama series Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries (2012–2015), and Sister Mildred in the BBC1 drama series Call the Midwife (2018–2021).

On stage, Margolyes toured her one-woman show, Dickens' Women, between 1989 and 2012, which earned her an Olivier Award nomination; starred as Sue Mengers in the Australian premiere of I'll Eat You Last (2014); and originated the role of Madame Morrible in Wicked (West End, 2006; Broadway, 2008). Outside acting, she has fronted various travelogue series and written three memoirs: This Much is True (2021), Oh Miriam! (2023), and The little book of Miriam (2025).

Early life and education

Miriam Margolyes was born on 18 May 1941 in Oxford, England,[1] into a Jewish family.[2] She is the only child of Joseph Margolyes (1899–1995), a Scottish physician and general practitioner from the Strathbungo area of Glasgow,[3] and property-developer Ruth[2][4] (Template:Née; 1905–1974),[5] daughter of a second-hand furniture dealer and auctioneer at Kirkdale, Liverpool, who later relocated to London.[2] The maternal family surname changed from Sandeman to Walters before Margolyes' birth.[2][6][7] Her maternal great-grandfather, Symeon Sandmann, was born in the Polish town of Margonin, then part of the Kingdom of Prussia, which Margolyes visited in 2013. Her paternal grandfather Philip Margolyes was born in the small Belarusian shtetl of Amdur, which at the time was in Grodno Governorate, Russian Empire.[2]

Margolyes attended Oxford High School[8] and Newnham College, Cambridge.[9] There, in her 20s, she began acting and appeared in productions by the Cambridge Footlights.[10] 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;[8] she claims to have used the word in frustration on the show in 1963. The word was "bleeped out" for transmission.[11][12][13]Template:Efn

Career

File:Miriam Margolyes.jpg
Margolyes reading Oliver Twist in 2006

With her versatile voice, Margolyes first gained recognition as a voice artist. In the 1970s, she recorded a soft-porn audio called Sexy Sonia: Leaves from my Schoolgirl Notebook.[14] In 1972, she played alongside Tony Robinson in the educational TV show Sam on Boffs' Island. 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.[15][16]

In 1974, she appeared with Kenneth Williams and Ted Ray in the BBC Radio 2 comedy series The Betty Witherspoon Show.[17]

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.[18] 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).[19]

Margolyes played the dental nurse to Steve Martin's dentist in the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors. In her 2023 memoir Oh Miriam: Stories from an Extraordinary Life, Margolyes said Martin was "undeniably brilliant, but horrid to me" during the film.[20] Martin responded that "My memory is that we had a good communication as professional actors. But when it is implied that I harmed her or was in some way careless about doing the stunts, I have to object".[21]Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

In 1989, Margolyes co-wrote and performed a one-woman show, Dickens' Women, in which she played 23 characters from Dickens' novels.[22] 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.[23]

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[24] and provided the voice of Fly the dog in the Australian-American family film Babe (1995).[25]

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.[26] In 2024, Margolyes enraged adult Harry Potter fans by stating, "I worry about Harry Potter fans because they should be over that by now. It was 25 years ago, and it’s for children."[27] Harry Potter fans responded on X, one saying "Nobody has a right to try and shame people into not enjoying something they harmlessly enjoy." Louis Chilton wrote in The Independent that "Margolyes does have that right. Don’t we all? And what’s a bit of shame every now and then between friends?"[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).Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

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.[34]

In 2014, she voiced Nana in the Disney Junior animated series Nina Needs to Go![35]

In January 2016, Margolyes appeared in The Real Marigold Hotel, a travel documentary in which a group of eight celebrities travelled to India to see whether retirement would be more rewarding there than in the UK.[36] The series was reprised for two Christmas Specials The Real Marigold On Tour, from Florida and Kyoto.[37] She narrated the 2016 ITV documentary about Lady Colin Campbell entitled Lady C and the Castle.[38]

In December 2017, Margolyes appeared in the second season of The Real Marigold On Tour to Chengdu and Havana.[39] She appeared in the first episode of the third series, in which she travelled to St Petersburg with Bobby George, Sheila Ferguson and Stanley Johnson.Script error: No such module "Unsubst".

File:Miriam Margolyes, Edinburgh 2025.jpg
Miriam in Edinburgh in August 2025 during the Q&A session after her show Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits

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.[40] She voiced Queen Oofeefa in the film Early Man.[41] Margolyes portrayed Mother Mildred in the BBC One drama Call the Midwife from 2018 until 2021.[42]

She played Miss Shepherd in a 2019 production of The Lady in the Van for the Melbourne Theatre Company in Melbourne in Australia.[43]

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.[44] 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.[45]

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.[46]

She appeared on BBC Radio 4's The Museum of Curiosity in February 2023. Her hypothetical donation to this imaginary museum was "Charles Dickens and all his works".[47] In November 2023, Margolyes appeared as the voice of The Meep in "The Star Beast", the first of three Doctor Who 60th anniversary specials.[48][49]

In 2025, she performed as solo entertainer in her show Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits at Edinburgh Festival Fringe.[50][51]

Personal life

File:Miriam Margolyes with Julia Gillard.jpg
Margolyes shortly after being presented with her Australian citizenship certificate by Prime Minister Julia Gillard, 2013

Margolyes spent many years living for long periods in Australia,[52] and became an Australian citizen on Australia Day 2013, while retaining her British citizenship.[53]

She is lesbian,[54] and referred to herself as a "dyke" live on national television and in front of Australian prime minister Julia Gillard in 2013.[53] Since 1968, she has been in a relationship with Heather Sutherland,[25][55] an Australian retired professor of Indonesian studies. On 26 June 2013, Sutherland and Margolyes entered into a civil partnership.[56] since 2012Template:Dated maintenance category (articles)Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters"., they were dividing their time between homes in London and Kent in England, Robertson, New South Wales in Australia, and Montisi in Italy.[57][58][59][60] In November 2023, Margolyes revealed on The Graham Norton Show that she and Sutherland had never lived together but she wanted to do so as they were now both old and did not have much time left. She had been living in London and Sutherland had been living in Amsterdam for a while.[61]

Health

Margolyes has spoken openly about several health challenges in later life. She has been diagnosed with spinal stenosis, a condition that causes narrowing of the spinal canal and affects mobility. As a result, she uses mobility aids, including walking sticks, a walker, and a mobility scooter, and is registered as disabled.[62] She also suffers from osteoarthritis, which contributes to chronic pain in her legs, hands, and back, and has undergone knee replacement surgery on her left knee.[63]

In May 2023, she underwent a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), a minimally invasive heart procedure in which her aortic valve was replaced with one made from the tissue of a cow's heart.[64][65]

In July 2025, Margolyes responded to renewed media speculation about her health, following earlier claims that she had said in an interview she was "probably going to die within the next five or six years, if not before". In a video message, she dismissed claims that she was "at death's door" as "bollocks", affirming she was "very much alive" and preparing to perform at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.[66][67][68]

In August 2025, during an interview with Weekend Magazine, Margolyes expressed support for assisted dying, stating she would consider it if a stroke left her unable to speak, doubly incontinent or cognitively impaired.[69]

Charities

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.[70]

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.[71] She is also a campaigner for the respite care charity Crossroads.[72]

Political views

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 including Vanessa Redgrave, Frances de la Tour, and Tom Kempinski.[73]

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 ChronicleTemplate:'s reporting of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn's alleged associations with antisemites.[74] In November 2019, she endorsed the Labour Party in the UK general election because of their policies on the National Health Service.[75][76] 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".[77]

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."[78]

In her 2020 ABC series Almost Australian, Margoyles interviewed the Sistergirls of the Tiwi Islands, a transgender group of indigenous Australians. Margoyles can be seen telling the group "to be a woman you're gonna have to get rid of all that stuff [referring to facial hair] but I get whiskers on my chin and I have to pluck them out with tweezers because that's what women do," before being told by one of the indigenous members "you know, in our culture we respect that person regardless of the look. We don't look on the outside, it's the inside that you have to change." Margolyes responded "I apologise, now I understand."[79]

In a 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".[80] 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.[81]

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!'"[82][83] She was herself shaken by the blunder, explaining to a researcher as she left the studio that she thought the mics were off at the time of the comment. [84]

She is a signatory of Jews for Justice for Palestinians.[85] 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."[86]

On 6 April 2024, a video by Margolyes was published by The Jewish Council of Australia criticising the Israeli government for its ongoing invasion of the Gaza Strip and calling on Jews to "shout, beg, scream" for a ceasefire. In her 2.5 minute video she said:[87][88]

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... I have never been so ashamed of Israel as I am at this moment. To me, it seems as if Hitler has won. He's changed us Jews from being compassionate and caring and do unto others as you would have them do unto you into this vicious genocidal nationalist nation, pursuing and killing women and children. Of course, I condemn the Hamas action, of course I do. But what we are doing, Jewish people over in Israel, is shocking, embarrassing and wicked and I cannot understand why all Jewish people, particularly members of synagogues, do not want immediately to stop what is going on. And in the name of humanity, I call upon all Jews to shout, beg, scream for a ceasefire. ...

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The Campaign Against Antisemitism described these comments as "repugnant" and "anti-Jewish venom". It said it would write to the Honours Forfeiture Committee and the British Academy of Film and Television Arts and urge them to revoke her honours.[89] Jewish author and activist Andrew Feinstein said Margolyes is "a Jew who believes that ‘Never Again' applies to all humanity and speaks up about the reality that Israel does not represent us. She speaks truth to power in the best Jewish tradition".[90] Margolyes said "I'm not antisemitic, I'm anti-killing children. I am criticising the Israeli government. But I am also criticising the Jewish people in the UK, the community that I belong to, which is not coming out in support of me. I just want people not to kill each other".[91]

Books

  • Dickens' Women (2011) Co-authored with Sonia Fraser[92]
  • This Much is True (2021)[93]
  • Oh Miriam!: Stories from an Extraordinary Life (2023)[94]
  • The Little Book of Miriam (2025)[95]

In popular culture

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.[96]

Filmography

Film

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 [97]
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 [97]
The Awakening Dr Kadira [97]
1981 Reds Woman writing in notebook Uncredited role[97]
1982 Crystal Gazing Newsreader
1983 Yentl Sarah [97]
Scrubbers Jones [97]
1984 Electric Dreams Ticket girl [97]
1985 The Good Father Jane Powell [97]
Morons from Outer Space Doctor Wallace [97]
1986 Little Shop of Horrors Dental Nurse [97]
1987 Body Contact Mrs. Zulu
1988 Little Dorrit Flora Finching [97]
1990 The Fool Mrs. Bowring
Pacific Heights Rochelle [97]
I Love You to Death Mrs Soca [97]
1991 The Butcher's Wife Gina [97]
Dead Again Lady Uncredited role[97]
1992 As You Like It Audrey [97]
1993 The Age of Innocence Mrs. Mingott [97]
Ed and His Dead Mother Mabel Chilton [97]
1994 Immortal Beloved Nanette Streicherová [97]
1995 Balto Grandma Rosy [97]
Babe Fly Voice role [97]
1996 Different for Girls Pamela [97]
Romeo + Juliet The Nurse [97]
James and the Giant Peach Aunt Sponge/Glowworm[97] Voice role
1998 Mulan The Matchmaker
Babe: Pig in the City Fly Voice role; cameo
The First Snow of Winter Sean the duck[97] Voice role
Left Luggage Mrs Goldman[97]
Candy Gisella
1999 Magnolia Faye Barringer Uncredited role[97]
End of Days Mabel [97]
Dreaming of Joseph Lees Signora Caldoni [97]
Sunshine Rose Sonnenschein [97]
2000 House! Beth
2001 Not Afraid, Not Afraid Performer
Cats & Dogs Sophie the Castle Maid [97]
2002 Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets Professor Pomona Sprout [97]
Plots with a View Thelma & Selma
Alone Caseworker [97]
2004 Being Julia Dolly de Vries [97]
Ladies in Lavender Dorcas [97]
Modigliani Gertrude Stein [97]
End of the Line Bag Lady Short film
Chasing Liberty Maria [97]
2006 Happy Feet Mrs. Astrakhan Voice role
Flushed Away Rita's Grandma
2007 The Dukes Aunt Vee [97]
2008 How To Lose Friends and Alienate People Mrs Kowalski [97]
2009 A Closed Book Mrs. Kilbride
2010 Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga'Hoole Mrs Plithiver Voice role[97]
2011 Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2 Professor Pomona Sprout [97]
2012 Sir Billi Baroness Chantal McToff Voice role
The Wedding Video Patricia [97]
The Guilt Trip Anita [97]
2014 The Legend of Longwood Lady Thyrza [97]
Maya the Bee The Queen Voice role
2017 The Little Vampire 3D Wulftrud
The Man Who Invented Christmas Mrs. Fisk [97]
2018 Early Man Queen Oofeefa Voice role[97]
2019 H Is for Happiness Miss Bamford [97]
2020 Miss Fisher and the Crypt of Tears Prudence Stanley [97]
2023 My Happy Ending Judy [97]
Pored tebe Vera
2025 A Friend of Dorothy Dorothy Short film[98]

Television

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"
1972–73 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
The Water Margin Voice English dub of Japanese series
1976, 1982 Crown Court Marilyn Munro; Mrs. King 2 episodes
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[99]
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
The First Snow of Winter Sean McDuck Voice; UK version
Supply & Demand Chief Superintendent Edna Colley TV serial
1998, 2001 Rugrats Shirley Finster Voice; 3 episodes
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[100] Grunhilda Episode: "The Changeling"
2011 Doc Martin Shirley Episode: Born with a Shotgun[99]
2012–15 Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries Prudence Elizabeth Stanley 12 episodes[99]
2013 Hebburn Millie Christmas special[99]
2014 Nina Needs to Go! Nana Sheila Voice; 15 episodes[99]
Trollied Rose Series 4[99]
2016 Plebs Iona Episode: "The Cupid"[99]
2016–17 Bottersnikes & Gumbles Weathersnike 3 episodes[99]
2016–18 Rake Huntley-Brown 3 episodes
2017 Bucket Mim 4 episodes[99]
Family Guy Right Eyeball Voice; Episode: "Emmy-Winning Episode"
2018–21 Call the Midwife Sister Mildred/Mother Mildred 7 episodes[99]
2019 101 Dalmatian Street Bessie Voice; Episode: "A Summer to Remember"
2020 The Windsors Queen Victoria Episode: #3.1[99]
2021 Apple & Onion Queen Victoria Sponge Voice; Episode: "For Queen and Country"
2022 Dog Squad Sylvie Voice; 3 episodes[101]
2023 Doctor Who The Meep Voice; "The Star Beast"
Hilda Astrid Voice; 4 episodes[99]
Mog's Christmas Aunt Voice[102]

Video games

Year Title Role(s) Ref(s)
2021 Wallace & Gromit: The Big Fix Up BERYL [103]
2023 Wallace & Gromit in The Grand Getaway [104]

Non-fiction television

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[105]
2022 Miriam Margolyes: Up for Grabs An Alan Yentob imagine...[106][107] documentary for BBC TV[108]
Miriam Margolyes Australia Unmasked ABC TV documentary series[109]
Miriam's Dickensian Christmas C4 TV documentary[110]
2023 Irish Road Trip with Miriam Margolyes SBS TV documentary series[111]
2024 Impossibly Australian ABC TV documentary series[112]
Miriam Margolyes: A New Australian Adventure BBC TV documentary series[113]
2025 Miriam Margolyes Discovers New Zealand BBC TV documentary series[114]

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.

Theatre

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
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
Wicked Madame Morrible Apollo Victoria Theatre, London
2008 George Gershwin Theater, New York
2009 Realism Performer Melbourne Theatre Company
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
I'll Eat You Last Sue Mengers Melbourne Theatre Company
2015 The Importance of Being Miriam Performer Australian TourTemplate:Efn
2017 Madame Rubinstein Helena Rubinstein Park Theatre, London
2019 The Lady in the Van Miss Shepherd Melbourne Theatre Company
Sydney & The Old Girl Nell Stock Park Theatre, London
2024 White Rabbit Red Rabbit Performer @sohoplace, London[115]
2025 Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits Performer Edinburgh Festival, Edinburgh International Conference Centre[50][51]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Refs
1989 Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle Supporting Actress Little Dorrit Won [116][117]
1991 Laurence Olivier Award Best Actress in a Musical Dickens' Women Nominated [118]
1993 Sony Radio Award Best Actress On Radio The Queen and I Won [119]
1994 British Academy Film Award Best Supporting Actress The Age of Innocence Won [116][120]
1997 The Talkies Performer of the Year — Oliver Twist Won [117]
2001 Audiofile's Earphones Award — A Christmas Carol Won [121]
2007 Theatregoer's Choice Award Best Supporting Actress in a Musical Wicked Won [122]
2010 Best Supporting Actress in a Play Endgame Won [123]
2018 Audiofile's Earphones Award — Bleak House Won [124]

Margolyes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for Services to Drama.[125]

Notes

Template:Notelist

References

<templatestyles src="Reflist/styles.css" />

  1. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  2. ↑ a b c d e Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  3. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  4. ↑ Newnham College Register, 1871–1971: 1951–1970, Newnham College, Cambridge (Cambridge University Press), 1990, p. 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, p. 450.
  6. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  7. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  8. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  9. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  10. ↑ Footlights Alumni Template:Webarchive. Footlights.org. Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  11. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  12. ↑ University Challenge The Story So Far – Documentary, Granada for BBC, aired by BBC 27 December 27, 2008, 14:15
  13. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  14. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  15. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  16. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  17. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  18. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  19. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  20. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  21. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  22. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  23. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  24. ↑ "Margolyes: Voice of a movie star" 31 December 2001, BBC News
  25. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  26. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  27. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  28. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  29. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  30. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  31. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  32. ↑ Brief Encounter With … Miriam Margolyes – Endgame at Duchess Theatre – London – Interviews Template:Webarchive. Whatsonstage.com. Retrieved 11 June 2012.
  33. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  34. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  35. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  36. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  37. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  38. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  39. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  40. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  41. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  42. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  43. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  44. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  45. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  46. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  47. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  48. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  49. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  50. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  51. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  52. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  53. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  54. ↑ Desert Island Discs – 28 September 2008 – Miriam Margolyes . BBC. (28 September 2008). Retrieved 25 August 2011.
  55. ↑ Property Observer, "Andrew Denton and Jennifer Byrne blaze a trail to Southern Highlands retreat" Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 7 December 2015
  56. ↑ Sharon Verghis, "Miriam Margolyes: The ultimate character actress for Dickens", The Australian, 4 February 2012. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
  57. ↑ Gabriella Coslovich, "Lunch with Miriam Margolyes", Canberra Times, 7 April 2012 Template:Webarchive. Retrieved 7 December 2015
  58. ↑ Jane Cadzow, "Miss Margolyes Mysteries"
  59. ↑ Lyell, Carrie (9 February 2016). "Miriam Margolyes: My Mother Was Utterly Appalled When I Came Out" Template:Webarchive, Diva Magazine. UK. Retrieved 5 August 2016.
  60. ↑ "At home with Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes" Template:Webarchive 11 May 2010, Southern Highland News
  61. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  62. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  63. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  64. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  65. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  66. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  67. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  68. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  69. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  70. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  71. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  72. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  73. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  74. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  75. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  76. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  77. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  78. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  79. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".
  80. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  81. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  82. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  83. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  84. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  85. ↑ "JFJFP Signatories" Template:Webarchive Jews for Justice for Palestinians Signatory List 11 August 2012
  86. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  87. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  88. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  89. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  90. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  91. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  92. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  93. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  94. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  95. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  96. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  97. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  98. ↑ https://www.radiotimes.com/movies/friend-of-dorothy-first-look-stephen-fry-miriam-margolyes-newsupdate/
  99. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  100. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  101. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  102. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  103. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  104. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  105. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  106. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  107. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  108. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  109. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  110. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  111. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  112. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  113. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  114. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  115. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  116. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  117. ↑ a b Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  118. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  119. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  120. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  121. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  122. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  123. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  124. ↑ Script error: No such module "citation/CS1".
  125. ↑ Script error: No such module "Citation/CS1".Script error: No such module "London Gazette util".

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