Beloved Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has shared that she has a limited time left to live.
At 83, Margolyes has enjoyed a remarkably successful career, featuring in various family-friendly films like Babe and Flushed Away, in addition to her acclaimed performances in prestigious roles such as Baz Luhrmann’s award-winning Romeo and Juliet and her extensive work in theater.
In a recent interview, the cherished actress provided a heartbreaking update on her health, leaving the internet feeling devastated.
“She’s an absolute legend—a wonderful person who will be a tremendous loss,” one fan commented.
Another fan wrote, “She’s incredible. An advocate for justice and inclusion, we will be losing another of the truly good ones. Her legacy will be one of remarkable warmth and wisdom. I will miss her.”
“Surely there’s something in the Wizarding World that can save her!” another fan remarked.
In 2002, Margolyes was honored with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to drama.
She has also received a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Age of Innocence and was awarded Best Supporting Actress at the LA Critics Circle Awards for Little Dorrit.
When reflecting on her work earlier this year, the British-Australian actress stated, “I love making people laugh. I’ve done that my entire life.”
Many will remember Margolyes as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter franchise.
She made headlines earlier this year when she stated that adult fans of the iconic film series should “grow up” and “get over it.”
Renowned for her no-nonsense and outspoken personality, the star ignited a heated debate among fans at the time.
“I do Cameos (personalized video messages), and people tell me they are having a Harry Potter-themed wedding. I think, ‘Oh gosh, what is their first night of fun going to be?’ I can’t even imagine it. Harry Potter is wonderful, and I’m very grateful for it. But it’s over. That’s how I feel,” she shared in an interview with New Zealand’s media.
Last year, Margolyes disclosed that she had undergone heart surgery.
In an interview on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, she elaborated on the surgery: “I’ve got a cow’s heart now,” she revealed. “Well, not the entire heart. I had my aortic valve replaced with a cow’s aortic valve.”
“I’m not sure how common it is; I had never heard of that operation before. But it saves you from having open-heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive,” she said.
The Mayo Clinic explains that a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure “to replace an aortic valve that is narrowed and doesn’t open fully.”
During TAVR, a doctor replaces a damaged aortic valve with one constructed from cow or pig heart tissue.
Margolyes also suffers from spinal stenosis, a condition where the space inside the backbone is too narrow. “This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine,” according to the Mayo Clinic.
In an interview with the Radio Times, she shared her concerns, stating, “I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for caregivers when I eventually get paralyzed or whatever is going to happen to me. I’m saving up cash so I can pay people to look after me and my partner.”
For the first time in 12 years, despite her recent heart surgery and spinal condition, Margolyes will be performing at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the largest performing arts festival in the world. She plans to “bring to life the most colorful and iconic characters” from Charles Dickens’ novels.
However, in a recent interview with The Telegraph, she discussed the impact her medical conditions are having on her acting career.
Margolyes stated, “I yearn to play roles that don’t confine me to wheelchairs, but I’m just not strong enough.” She expressed that her health issues are “limiting and depressing.”
The actress admitted that she feels as though her life is nearing its end.
“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 reluctant to leave behind performing. It’s such a joy,” she said.
