Miriam Margolyes acting career includes a BAFTA-nominated role in Martin Scorseses The Age of Innocence, Reds, Mulan, Call the Midwife and a lot more, but its her appearance as Professor Sprout in two Harry Potter movies that have made her a recognizable face across the world not that Margolyes cares too much for the beloved franchise.
Speaking to Vogue UK for a new profile, Margolyes acknowledged that her two Harry Potter movies introduced her to an entire new generation of young people but said the franchise doesnt mean as much to me as it does to them.
For me, Harry Potter wasnt important, Margolyes said. I was very glad I got the part and I enjoyed being in it and meeting all the people, but its not Charles Dickens.
However, Margolyes is grateful for the continued love from fans. She played Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Death Hallows Part 2.
People come up to me and say I just love you, and want to hug me. And that is dazzling, Margolyes said, while remembering a British newspaper once calling her a national trinket. Thats very witty and rather cutting actually. Id like to be a national treasure, but I dont know if I really am.
Margolyeswent viral last yearfor sharing a non-Harry Potter acting story on the Ive Got News For You podcastin which she revealed that she disliked working withArnold Schwarzeneggeron the 1999 supernatural action movie End of Days because he allegedly farted on her face in between filming takes. Margolyes said Schwarzenegger deliberately did it and she still hasnt forgiven him.
Hes a bit too full of himself and I dont care for him at all. Hes a Republican, which I dont like, Margolyes said of Schwarzenegger. He was actually quite rude. He farted in my face. Now, I fart, of course, I do but I dont fart in peoples faces. He did it deliberately, right in my face.
I was playing Satans sister and he was killing me, so he had me in a position where I couldnt escape and lying on the floor. And he just farted, Margolyes continued. It wasnt on film, it was in one of the pauses, but I havent forgiven him for it.
Margolyes most recently appeared in the drama film My Happy Ending, directed by Sharon Maymon and Tal Granit