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Author and actress Miriam Margolyes has addressed rumors about her purported imminent death while expressing her worries over worsening health in the future.
The Harry Potter actress, known for her role as Professor Sprout in the popular film series, humorously remarked that the closest she came to dying was when journalists falsely announced her “imminent demise.”
The actress, who hails from Oxford, shared with the Guardian her trepidations about the final chapter of her life, particularly the fear of losing control over her body.
In recent times, she has battled numerous health complications, including spinal stenosis, rheumatism, and arthritis.
When asked about her future fears, she admitted her greatest dread was facing “the utter powerlessness of locked-in syndrome” and spoke of her fear of becoming “doubly incontinent” as she ages.
This is not the first time Miriam, 84, has discussed her end-of-life preferences.
Earlier this year, the British-Australian star told the Daily Mail that she would consider assisted dying if her quality of life were to fall below a certain standard.
She elaborated: “I don’t want to endure a prolonged period filled with pain and embarrassment. If a stroke meant I couldn’t speak, or if I were doubly incontinent, or completely lost my mind, I would opt to end my life. I want to be true to myself and not be reduced to less than I can be.”
Miriam’s remarks follow around two years since she underwent heart surgery. In 2023, she received a replacement aortic valve, which meant she could avoid the need for more extensive open-heart surgery.
Despite concerns that people might assume she’d undergone a complete heart transplant, she explained on Jessie and Lennie Ware’s Table Manners Podcast precisely what the procedure involved.
She said: “Well, not the whole heart. I’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve. I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open-heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”
Despite her bravery when confronting health challenges, Miriam has remained frank about feeling her time is limited. During a conversation with The Times, she revealed her estimation of her remaining years.
She said: “When you know that you haven’t got long to live – and I’m probably going to die within the next five or six years, if not before – I’m loath to leave behind performing. It’s such a joy. I yearn to play roles that don’t confine me to wheelchairs, but I’m just not strong enough.”
Miriam is set to grace UK television once again in her newest programme, Miriam Margolyes Discovers New Zealand, scheduled to broadcast at 9pm tonight (August 29) on BBC Two.
