Miriam Margolyes, known for her roles in Harry Potter and Call the Midwife, was offered a place on Celebrity Traitors but has ‘never watched it’ so turned it down without hesitation.
Miriam Margolyes was offered a place on Celebrity Traitors but has ‘never watched it’ to begin with. The Harry Potter actress, 84, could have been joining other famous faces like Tom Daley, Kate Garraway, and Stephen Fry amongst a host of others on the BBC reality show but immediately said no when offered.
The star made an appearance at Cheltenham Literature Festival over the weekend where she was asked about the idea of taking part in the hit series, which sees contestants move into a castle and work through various challenges whilst working out which among them are ‘traitors’. She said: “Well, I can tell you the answer to that. No!
“I was offered this job. No. Just recently and I can’t think of anything I’d rather less do. I’m not into that. I’ve never watched it, I don’t intend to watch it.”
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Miriam has had a varied career in the world of showbusiness since starting out in the 1960s, and has appeared on stage and screen continuously. In recent years, she has been seen in episodes of shows like Doctor Who, and previously held a recurring role on Call The Midwife. She has also become known for her outspoken political views, and, while she has not really taken part in reality television, she has fronted a slew of documentaries and made regular appearances on The Graham Norton Show.
Internationally, however, Miriam is perhaps best known for her portrayal of Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, in which she played a teacher in two of the eight films that were based on JK Rowling’s magical book series. Even though the part brought her global fame, she recently admitted that she doesn’t regard it with the same reverence as some of her other work.
Miriam, who secured a BAFTA for her performance in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence, delivered her latest Potter criticism during a chat on Ireland AM.
Host Elaine Crowley enquired: “I suppose when you look at your career over the years, I know you’re a mad fan of Dickens. You think he’s perhaps overlooked in terms of Shakespeare. Your career from Harry Potter to everything else to Doctor Who you’ve done it all, been there for it all, but do you have any particular role that was a highlight for you?”
After a moment’s hesitation, Miriam responded: “Yes, there are certain things… I mean Harry Potter is not for me a highlight.
“That was a delightful experience because I was working with Maggie Smith whom I adored and she was lovely to me. She is not always lovely to everybody but she was lovely to me.
“Oh yes, if she didn’t like you, you knew it, you know. But she was great, she was fabulous”.
Downton Abbey legend Maggie passed away last year at the age of 89 and she memorably played Professor McGonagall in Harry Potter. Despite downplaying the significance of Harry Potter in her illustrious career, it’s not the first time Miriam has ruffled the feathers of wizarding fans.
Last year, she told Potter fans they “should be over that by now”, adding to New Zealand broadcaster TZNZ: “It was 25 years ago, and I think it’s for children.
“I do Cameos and people say they are doing a Harry Potter-themed wedding, and I think, ‘Oh gosh what is their first night of fun going to be?'”
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