Miriam Margolyes
Jade Small
Jade Small
June 21, 2023 ·  3 min read

At 82, Miriam Margolyes Poses Nude for Vogue’s Pride Month Issue

Harry Potter fans will fondly remember the lovable Professor Sprout, who taught herbology to the Hogwarts students. Miriam Margolyes was not only magical in her presence in these films, but in reality, she took to the stage of life with vigor and determination. Now, at the age of 82, she has wowed the world once again by posing nude in honor of Pride month. She confidently states how “lucky” gay people are.

Miriam Margolyes Early Life

Many celebrities have captivated the world with their vibrant personalities. But, none so much as Miriam Margolyes. Born to a Jewish family on May 18, 1941, in Oxford, England. She was raised lovingly by her parents and was blessed with a sister to enjoy the journey of childhood with. When she finished school, she went on to study acting at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art (RADA).

Miriam’s acting career was born on the stage of theater productions during the 1960s. Then she received her big break into the film side of acting with her role in the 1977 film, “Stand Up, Virgin Soldiers.” She played Elephant Ethel and discovered a love for acting in movies. However, her international fame came from the oh-so-loved Harry Potter Movie Franchise where she played the nurturing Professor Pomona Sprout. This endearing character suited her so well, and she gained many fans thanks to her brilliant acting.

She Came Out as a Lesbian

Miriam Margolyes is not only a skilled actor, but she has made a name for herself as an advocate for the LGBTQ community. This is largely because she came out as a lesbian in 1966. This was extremely brave, as homosexuality was still illegal in the UK. It was not safe for the gay community back then, as sexual orientation-based violence was common during this time. In a recent interview with Vogue Magazine, she said, “I never had any shame about being gay or anything really. I knew it wasn’t criminal because it was me. I couldn’t be criminal.”

Unfortunately, her coming out to the world meant she had to tell her parents about her sexual preferences. She admitted in her book, “This Much Is True,” that her mother had a stroke and died shortly after the big reveal. This caused immense pain for Miriam Margolyes, and she harbored guilt for many years. “I always believed that my coming out in some way caused it,” she wrote. “I had caused the person I loved most in the world a pain she could not bear. It was a horrendous time and I was very unhappy. I knew I couldn’t change what I was; I should not have told them.”

Miriam Margolyes Proudly Poses Nude for Pride Month

Not only did Miriam Margolyes candidly speak about her support and participation in the LGBTQ community, she proudly posed naked for the article. Miriam can be admired for her topless physique, with only a couple of pastries covering her bosoms. She said, “I think gay people are very lucky because we are not conventional, we are a group slightly apart. It gives us an edge. We’re good artists, we’re good musicians. And I like being gay. I wouldn’t want to be straight for anything.”

When asked what she thinks about the future of LGBTQ rights in the UK, she was honest in that she has little hope. “It’s not so much the gay part of things. I’m worried about all of it,” Margolyes said. “I just think England has become a s***-hole. And the government is at the heart of the s***. There’s been a moral slide in England into the deep pit of iniquity.”

Miriam Margolyes went on to talk about the asylum seekers who are to be sent to Rwanda. “I don’t have a lot of hope at the moment,” she said. “I cannot believe that people are genuinely in approval of sending asylum seekers to Rwanda. Something’s happened to ordinary decent people that they can think that that is a legitimate solution.”

Keep Reading: Martha Stewart, 81, poses for Sports Illustrated Swimsuit

Sources

  1. “Profanity & Profundity: Catching Up With Miriam Margolyes, Our Naughtiest National Treasure.” Vogue. Chris Godfrey. June 13 2023
  2. “Miriam Margolyes, 82, poses topless for Vogue’s Pride Month issue.” Independent. Louis Chilton and Nicole Vassell. June 15, 2023.