Just two years after the Harry Potter actor underwent heart surgery, beloved actress Miriam Margolyes has admitted a heartbreaking fear about her health by saying she hasn’t got “long to live.”
Actress Miriam Margolyes has been a staple of British stage and screen for decades, but she has admitted that ongoing health issues have limited the kind of roles she can take on in recent years.
The actress, who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter movies, opened up in an interview about a heartbreaking fear regarding her health, saying that she believes she hasn’t got “long to live”. Speaking to The Times, Miriam 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, 84, had her aortic valve replaced in 2023 after having heart surgery, which luckily prevented her from having much more in-depth open heart surgery. On the Jessie and Lennie Ware podcast, she stated, “I’ve got a cow’s heart now,” adding, “Well, not the entire heart.” A cow’s aortic valve replaced my aortic valve. How prevalent is it, in my opinion. That operation was unknown to me. However, it prevents you from having “open heart surgery,” which would be significantly more invasive.
The candid actress has dealt with a few health issues over the years and has previously revealed she is registered as disabled. The Mirror looks back at the health problems that Miriam has struggled with…
Spinal Stenosis
The Oxford-born actress suffers from spinal stenosis, which she has said seriously impacts her mobility. Spinal stenosis occurs when the tunnels in the spine, which contain nerves, narrow – this can be quite common as people get older, per the NHS – and some people experience very few symptoms, or their nerves learn to adapt to the smaller space.
It can have a more significant impact on some people, who may experience pain in their arms and legs and impaired function, which can have a significant impact on movement and quality of life. Additionally, it can cause more “serious conditions” like cervical myelopathy and cauda equina syndrome. These uncommon but persistent spinal conditions can cause permanent harm or disability.
Miriam revealed to the Radio Times that she initially wanted to keep her difficulties hidden from her audience when she revealed how her spinal stenosis and how it has affected her mobility. I remember telling directors and producers, “Please don’t show me clambering out of a car or climbing upstairs on my hands and knees,” when I started kind of physically failing.
However, I’ve since met a lot of people who have said I inspired them to do things they didn’t think they could. Lumbar and cervical spinal stenosis is one of two conditions that some people experience simultaneously, with the lumbar causing both to impact the legs and arms.
Pain, numbness or tingling, and a pins and needles sensation in the arms or legs are symptoms of spinal stenosis, along with cramping and heaviness in lumbar spinal stenosis. According to Miriam, she must use mobility aids to move around because of her spinal condition.
She told Closer, “I can’t walk very well, and I’m registered disabled.” I seek out all kinds of assistance. I have a mobility scooter, which is much fun, but my two sticks and walker are so boring.
It’s like having a new toy, Miriam joked. Because it has a basket on it, it’s very good for shopping, and I really enjoy whizzing around on it.
Arthritis
The BAFTA-winning actress has opened up a few times about her battle with osteoarthritis, which caused her to undergo a knee replacement surgery in 2016. She told Arthritis Digest that after a five-week stay in a dedicated rehabilitation facility post-surgery, she worked with a personal trainer to help build up muscles around her knee, but she also moved house so that she wouldn’t have to go up and down stairs as much.
Miriam, who received an OBE in 2002, stated that she first noticed osteoarthritis symptoms when she was just in her mid-30s. She said, “I actually experienced the first signs of osteoarthritis when I was only 35 years old.” I was relieved that Heberden’s nodes didn’t advance any further until some swelling in my knuckles turned out to be his.
“Ten years ago, my knees started to protest. I had broken a bone in my knee when I was at school and that was where the new problems began.” She also revealed that cold or damp weather worsens her symptoms, but offered some inspirational advice to other people dealing with the same issue.
“Keep moving as much as you can and don’t allow yourself to become isolated,” is my piece of advice to arthritis sufferers. Stretch and bend, stretch, and do a little bit more than you want to. It is worthwhile to get involved and share our experiences in societies where we can all become victims. Don’t get bogged down in the depression of the disease by being proactive. No one can avoid suffering or stress, she said, because everyone has a problem and needs inner strength to continue,” she said.
Osteoporosis
The actress serves as the Royal Osteoporosis Society ambassador despite having been diagnosed with osteoporosis. Bones are made weaker by the condition, which, regrettably, increases the risk of breaking.
Whilst losing bone density is a normal thing that happens to everyone when they get older, osteoporosis is more serious and needs to be managed. She told the BBC about her condition that she wouldn’t let it get her down, explaining with her characteristic good humour, “If we take control of our illness as best we can, it’s a very good psychological stimulus to getting on with life and not being downed by something with six syllables”.
Stress-related incontinence
After having a kidney stone removed, Miriam, who has never shied away from uncomfortable subjects and speaking her mind, started having stress incontinence, something that is common as older people, especially women, experience.
Because I can p** myself if I cough up or sneeze, I must be close to the bathroom.” Nobody ever talks about it, despite the fact that it’s common among people my age. I need to discuss it. She said, “It’s on my mind.”
Miriam recalled one time asking a stranger to use their bathroom while walking on Hampstead Heath. I knocked on the door and said, “I’m terribly sorry, but I’m going to ask to have s**t in your toilet,” is that true? I had a moment to think about the owner before asking, “I think I recognize you, Miriam Margolyes?” Yes, I am, but does that indicate whether it is better or worse?
Care concerns
Miriam has stated to the Radio Times that she worries about paying for carers as she gets older. “I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed or whatever it is going to happen… To pay someone to care for me and my partner, I’m saving up some money. Since we don’t have children, I need to make sure I’m being looked after in the manner that I’ve come to expect.
She echoed these sentiments on Loose Women, “One day I will need carers. I want to be comfortable and I want them to be properly paid for. It is really because I want to make money though and they pay me to do it.”
Source: Mirror
Leave a Reply