Miriam Margolyes

Author

Miriam Margolyes is a British-Australian actress, raconteur, and author known for her outspoken personality, her extraordinary range as a performer, and her ability to make any audience — whether in a theatre, on a television set, or in a recording studio — laugh, gasp, and lean in closer. She is one of the most distinctive and beloved... figures in British cultural life. Born in Oxford in 1941, Margolyes was educated at Oxford High School and Newnham College, Cambridge, where she was a member of the Footlights. She began her career on the stage and quickly established herself as a character actress of exceptional talent, equally at home in Shakespeare, Dickens, and modern drama. She became a British citizen and later also became an Australian citizen. Her film career includes memorable roles in The Age of Innocence, Babe, and — most famously — as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, a role that introduced her to a global audience of millions. She has worked extensively in theatre, television, and film across the UK, Australia, and the United States. But it is perhaps as a conversational presence — on chat shows, panel programmes, and in her own one-woman shows — that Margolyes is most loved. She is legendarily frank, funny, and unpredictable, with a gift for storytelling and a complete absence of pretension. Her appearances on programmes such as The Graham Norton Show have become the stuff of legend. Her memoir, This Much Is True, published in 2021, was a bestseller that charmed readers with its honesty, warmth, and hilarious anecdotes from a life spent in the performing arts. The Little Book of Miriam followed, offering further gems of wit and wisdom. Oh Miriam!, published subsequently, continued her exploration of a life lived without filters. The audiobook editions of her memoirs, narrated by Margolyes herself, are an absolute delight. Her voice — distinctive, expressive, and brimming with character — makes the audiobook experience feel like sitting across from her at a dinner party. Listeners have praised the audiobooks as even more enjoyable than the printed versions, which is saying something. Miriam Margolyes is a patron of several charities, a passionate advocate for LGBTQ+ rights, and a force of nature. Her books and audiobooks offer a joyful, irreverent, and deeply human portrait of a remarkable life. Read more Show less