Call The Midwife ACTRESS MIRIAM MARGOLYES SHARES HER FEELINGS ON REALITY TV
ACTRESS MIRIAM MARGOLYES OPENS UP TO ok! ABOUT FILMING THE CHRISTMAS SPECIAL FOR CALL THE MIDWIFE AND WHY SHE’S DEFINITELY NOT A FAN OF REALITY TV...
She’s an acclaimed actress and known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, but Miriam Margolyes OBE has also gained attention for her extraordinary storytelling.
The star famously left Friends actor Matthew Perry lost for words on The Graham Norton Show with her tale of getting over excited when meeting Laurence Olivier!
Opening up about her unapologetic honesty, Miriam, 78, has said: ‘I would have to admit that I’m daring in my comments. I do say things possibly other people don’t say.
‘People seem comfortable with me. And maybe that’s got a lot to do with shows like The Graham Norton Show. You just tell it like it is on those programmes.’
After being a long-standing fan of BBC’S Call The Midwife, Miriam was thrilled when she joined the cast for last year’s Christmas special as Sister Mildred – which drew in a staggering 5.5 million viewers.
Despite the show’s family friendly nature, she’s not been afraid to shock her fellow cast with expletive-ridden stories on set. Actor Stephen Mcgann, who plays Dr Patrick Turner, recently claimed she ‘turned the air as blue as her nun’s habit’.
The actress is returning to the show for this year’s Christmas special, which will see the characters head to Scotland’s Outer Hebrides to tend to expectant mothers living in the most remote environments in the country. Here, Miriam opens up about her fiery character, her love for the show and her hatred of reality TV...
Miriam, you were a huge fan of Call The
Midwife beforehand. Has starring on the show lived up to expectations?
I’m very happy with this group of people. They are very good at their jobs and I think it’s a distinguished series. It’s an honourable piece of work.
You’ve done big films like Harry Potter, how does this compare?
Oh darling, I’ve done it all! Look, I’m a jobbing actress who has been very lucky. I hope talent has something to do with it. But anybody would give their eye teeth to be on this show. This is the most popular show on TV. So just with that, it’s an honour.
What do you love about it?
I believe in the show and I believe in the values. I’m old fashioned and I like decency. I’m foul-mouthed, yes. But I love the honesty and decency. I think it’s a very English show. I often think what it would be like if it was made in America. It would be very different. It would be more guileful. There’s an innocence with our show that I like very much. It would be younger, and there would be a lot more sex and a lot less thought.
Do you ever watch reality shows like Love
Island?
Pardon? I don’t even know what Love Island is! Don’t be ridiculous. I don’t watch that kind of thing, I’m an educated woman!
Your character Sister Mildred is very much in charge of everyone, do you enjoy playing her?
I love playing my part. But it’s not because she’s in charge. Because I do believe that Jenny [Agutter, who plays Sister Julienne] is our leader. I look up to Jenny because she knows how to do it. I’m not that good on television. Jenny is a mother to us all. It really is just a joy to be with every one of these people. It’s very clear that we’re all just part of it. I’m just the new face on the block and it’s lovely to feel I’ve got a place here.
You only star in one episode of the new series. Are you leaving?
I’m not leaving! I’m in episode one of the new series but I was actually busy so I couldn’t be in any more than that. But I will be returning. So tough s**t if you thought I was leaving the show!
‘I don’t watch Love Island, I’m and educated woman’