Miriam Margolyes has declared that her role as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter was ‘not a career highlight’ just a year after telling adult fans of the films to ‘grow up’
Miriam Margolyes has disclosed that appearing in Harry Potter was “not a career highlight” – just one year after telling grown-up fans of the magical franchise to “grow up”.
The seasoned actress, 84, portrayed Professor Pomona Sprout in the film series, but 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.
Miriam, known for her role in Romeo + Juliet, has shared some of her career highlights, including her latest film with Stephen Fry, A Friend of Dorothy.
The film tells the tale of a “lonely widow’s quiet life is upended when a teenage boy accidentally kicks his football into her garden”.
She described the film as “really quite good” and delved into her character’s emotional journey, dealing with “deep pain in her heart” after having a disabled child completely altered her nature.
The telly star was in Ireland promoting her new memoir, The Little Book of Miriam.
Despite downplaying the significance of Harry Potter in her illustrious career, it’s not the first time she’s 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?'”
She also spoke about Cameo, a platform where fans can pay celebrities to create personalised videos, during her appearance on The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty last weekend.
Miriam revealed she has “never earned so much in my life” thanks to the site, exclaiming: “How lucky am I?”
Source: Mirror
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