That most lovely of screen and stage actresses, and fabulous lady lesbian (she's been with her girlfriend for 40 years), Miriam Margolyes is 70 years old today.
Whenever we see Miss Margolyes on chat shows or in interviews, she always appears a genuinely charming person - and what a versatile career she has had too!
She voiced all the female characters in those classic Chinese romps so beloved of my childhood, The Water Margin and Monkey!, was the voice of the Cadbury's Caramel rabbit, appeared in the comedy sketch show A Kick Up The 80s alongside Tracey Ullman and Rik Mayall, guest starred in Blackadder, was Aunt Sponge in James and the Giant Peach, and played to type as Julie T Walters' lesbian lover in the fabulous Life and Loves of a She-Devil. She specialises in character roles, particularly in Shakespeare and in Dickens adaptations, was the Cornish housekeeper in Ladies in Lavender, and is probably most famous internationally as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter - phew!
Miss Margolyes' biggest selling-point over the years has been her mellifluous voice - not only has she made a good living from voice-overs, but she also dedicates a lot of her time to reading audio-books for the visually impaired, as well as for the commercial market. Most successful of these was her Dickens' Women, which she did for the BBC (as well as on stage across the world). My mother loved it.
In celebration of this most marvellous lady, here are some clips...
Many happy returns to a great British treasure!
Miriam Margolyes online
Miriam Margolyes on IMDB
I loved her as the auntie in Blackadder! I am pleased to share my birthday with one such as she....(dreadful grammar....old age...)
ReplyDeleteHappy Birthday, darling! Jx
ReplyDeletethat BBC she-devil was the best.
ReplyDelete