Miriam Margolyes, the Oxford-born actress beloved for her role as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter, has spoken about media claims concerning her “imminent demise” while candidly addressing her concerns over ageing and loss of autonomy.

In a recent Q&A with The Guardian, she quipped that the closest she’s come to dying was “when the media, en masse, reported my imminent demise.”

She shared that her deepest fear is to “experience the utter powerlessness of locked-in syndrome,” followed by dread of becoming “doubly incontinent” as she grows older.

Earlier this year, Margolyes spoke to the Daily Mail about assisted dying.

She didn’t hold back: “I don’t want to go through a slowly diminishing period of pain and embarrassment. If a stroke meant I couldn’t speak, or I was doubly incontinent, or I lost my mind completely, I would ask to be put down. That’s because I want to be who I am. I don’t want to be less than I can be.”

Following concerns she might’ve had her entire heart replaced, she cleared the air on the Table Manners podcast: “Well, not the whole heart. I've had an aortic valve replaced by a cow's aortic valve. I don't know how common it is. I'd never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open-heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”

Margolyes revealed a stark assessment of her future in an interview with The Times: “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.”

She has undergone a transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), replacing her aortic valve with one from a cow, not her entire heart. She’s been open about her statuses: registered disabled, managing spinal stenosis, arthritis, and mobility challenges—using sticks, a walker, and even a mobility scooter.

In August 2025, she reaffirmed in Weekend Magazine that she strongly supports assisted dying under certain conditions—if she couldn’t speak, became incontinent, or lost her mind.

She has unequivocally rejected inaccurate claims that she was “at death’s door,” calling them “b******s” and emphasizing she’s “very much alive" and performing at the Edinburgh Fringe.

Featured image credit: Fairfax Media/Getty

Miriam Margolyes has given a heartbreaking update on her health as the Harry Potter star says she "doesn’t have long to live".

The 84-year-old actress, best known for playing Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, has long been candid about her declining health, and in a new interview with Weekend Magazine, she admitted she feels her issues stem largely from her weight.

“I’ve let my body down,” she confessed. “I haven’t taken care of it. I have to walk with a walker now. I wish I’d done exercise. It’s the most ghastly waste of time, except that it keeps you going. So, I’m foolish.”

Asked whether she’d consider Ozempic, the FDA-approved medication for people with type 2 diabetes that has recently gained traction in Hollywood as a weight-loss aid, Margolyes was clear in her response.

“Absolutely not,” she said. “That’s for diabetics. You shouldn’t take medicine meant for people who are really sick. What I do think is we should not have food advertising on television.”

Her update comes after a string of serious health concerns in recent years.

In May 2023, she was hospitalized at The Royal Brompton Hospital in Chelsea, London, with a chest infection.

While recovering, she wrote on Facebook: “Thanks to my precious friends who thought of me on TAVI DAY. I did survive and am still in The Royal Brompton Hospital certainly till Sunday. I am growing energy but it’s still not quite me. I am putting this so you know how grateful I am for lovely messages.”

Later that year, she underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement.

Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, she said: “I’ve got a cow’s heart now. Well, not the whole heart. I’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve. I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”

Despite the procedure’s success, Margolyes has continued to face mobility issues linked to spinal stenosis — a condition that narrows the spinal canal and puts pressure on the spinal cord and nerves — as well as osteoporosis.

“I can’t walk very well, and I’m registered disabled,” she told Closer Magazine. “I use all kinds of assistance. I’ve got two sticks and a walker, and they’re such a bore, but I’ve just got a mobility scooter, which is a lot of fun.”

She added with a laugh: “It’s like having a new toy. It’s very good for shopping because it’s got a basket on it - and I do enjoy whizzing around on it immensely.”

Margolyes has also spoken frankly about how her lifelong love of food has impacted her health.

Appearing nude in British Vogue for Pride month in June 2023, she admitted: “I’ve limited my life because of my longing for fudge or chopped liver, cheesecake. All these absurdities. I shouldn’t have been so greedy. I should have been stronger.”

In interviews, the Doctor Who and Call the Midwife star has not shied away from confronting her mortality, telling The Times in May: “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.”

Margolyes previously told British Vogue: “When you’re young, you never think about death. You just think about your next f*** basically. I think about death a lot.

"You can’t help but be aware that the amount of time ahead is less than the time before you. I’m still ducking and diving. I’m still open to new experiences. I’m just very conscious that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.”

Featured image credit: David Levenson / Getty

Miriam Margolyes has heartbreakingly admitted that she "doesn't have long left to live" in a raw health update.

The 83-year-old star, best known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise, is currently living with spinal stenosis - a condition that narrows the spinal canal, causing pressure on the spinal cord and nerves.

Despite her diagnosis, Margolyes has remained active in the entertainment industry.

In addition to her acting roles, Margolyes has earned significant income through her memoir and fan interactions.

According to reports, she made nearly $500,000 last year from her memoir alone, and since 2020, she has earned around $700,000 by recording personalized videos for fans on Cameo.

However, despite her recent financial success, Margolyes has spoken about her concerns over the future, particularly regarding her health and the potential need for care.

Speaking to the Telegraph earlier this year, she shared her worries about being able to afford the care she may require as her condition worsens.

“I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralyzed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me,” Margolyes revealed.

Spinal stenosis, which causes numbness, pain, and limited mobility, has impacted Margolyes' daily life, but she remains determined to keep working.

“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,” she said

She finds the physical constraints of old age “limiting and depressing”, she added.

“I want to be able to play parts that aren’t just sitting in wheelchairs, but I’m not strong enough.”

In addition to her health revelations, Margolyes has also raised eyebrows with her comments about the enduring popularity of Harry Potter.

Known for her role as the Herbology teacher in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, Margolyes expressed surprise at adults who remain deeply invested in the series.

“I worry about Harry Potter fans because they should be over that by now,” she said in an interview with New Zealand’s 1News. “It was 25 years ago, and it’s for children. I think it’s for children.”

While acknowledging her gratitude for being part of the iconic franchise, Margolyes admitted she is perplexed by some of the requests she receives from fans, particularly through Cameo, where she creates personalized messages.

“They get stuck in it,” she remarked, describing instances where fans tell her they are having Harry Potter-themed weddings. “I think, ‘Gosh, what’s their first night of fun going to be?’ I can’t even think about it. No.”

Featured image credit: Dave Benett / Getty

Miriam Margolyes has sadly revealed that she "can't walk" anymore and may be forced to use a wheelchair soon.

Margolyes, 82, is a beloved actress mainly noted for her work as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter - though it's her outspoken personality on chat shows that have really gathered her a big fan base.

Sadly, Margolyes has been grappling with spinal stenosis, a painful condition that affects the lower back and can severely hinder mobility. This condition arises from spinal pressure, causing significant discomfort in the legs, as reported by the Daily Mail.

Speaking on the How To Fail podcast, Margolyes bravely shared her struggles, saying: "The one thing I have not conquered and should have conquered is my weight. I am a blubber mass. I am fat. And to be fat and 82 is truly pathetic."

She expressed deep regret for some of her past lifestyle choices, adding: "It's such a defeat. A cream bun, a chocolate, or a helping of chopped liver is more important than your health and aesthetic presentation? No, it isn't more important; it's just greed, lack of discipline, all the things I'm embarrassed by in myself."

Discussing the potential long-term consequences of her choices, Margolyes admitted: "It is a major failure, and because of that, I've got spinal stenosis. I can't walk. I'm going to be in a wheelchair before I'm much older."

She continued to reflect on her past decisions, saying: "I've limited my life because of my longing for fudge or chopped liver, cheesecake. All these absurdities. I shouldn't have been so greedy; I should have been stronger. I f*** everything up by greed, and I think it's shameful."

Margolyes then contrasted her situation with that of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, praising her discipline and self-care, saying: "I mean, look at Camilla, our Queen; she's a good-looking woman; she's got her body in trim. I like her as a person... She's splendid and she's taken care of herself. It wasn't joy; it was laziness; it was greed – and I regret it."

Despite her regrets about her appearance, Margolyes maintained a sense of acceptance, saying: "I would like to be better looking; I would like to have a flatter tummy, and a stronger back and longer legs. But f**k it, here I am."

Earlier this year, the actress graced the pages of British Vogue in a stunning photoshoot that turned heads and as the magazine paid tribute to Pride Month.

In an exclusive interview with British Vogue, the Ladies in Lavender star delves into what it means to be both gay and Jewish while living under the relentless spotlight.

"I actually find lesbians a bit on the boring side, because they're a bit heavy-handed about it all," Margolyes admitted with her characteristic frankness. "I think gay people are very lucky because we are not conventional; we are a group slightly apart. It gives us an edge. We're good artists, we're good musicians," she continued. "And I like being gay. I wouldn't want to be straight for anything."

We wish Margolyes all the best in her current health journey.

Featured image credit: David M. Benett/Getty

Miriam Margolyes has opened up about her health, and the heartbreaking reason why she can't retire.

The 83-year-old is battling spinal stenosis, a condition where the spinal canal narrows, placing pressure on the spinal cord and nerve roots.

Despite her illness, Margolyes has continued to appear in numerous TV shows and even traveled to Australia earlier this year, where she made headlines with a controversial appearance on The Project.

Margolyes earned nearly $500,000 last year from her memoir and has reportedly made around $700,000 since 2020 from recording personalized videos for fans on Cameo.

Her appearance on The Project in Australia was particularly memorable. The discussion turned to the conflict in Gaza, where Margolyes, who is Jewish, called for an immediate ceasefire.

“Ceasefire now,” she insisted, receiving applause from the audience.

Despite her recent earnings and TV appearances, the actress opened up about her health battles and the need to work.

“I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralyzed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me,” Margolyes shared with Radio Times.

Facing the physical limitations of spinal stenosis and the challenges of aging, Margolyes finds these constraints "limiting and depressing" but remains determined to maintain her active career.

“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,” she stated.

In other Margolyes news, she recently shared her thoughts on Harry Potter fans, especially those who still enjoy the franchise as adults.

Margolyes, known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout, a Herbology teacher at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, believes fans should move on from the series.

Margolyes’ notable moment in the franchise came in the 2002 film Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets, where she instructed second-year students Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint), and Hermione (Emma Watson) on handling Mandrakes, a magical plant known for its deafening scream.

Despite her gratitude for being part of the series, Margolyes expressed her concerns in an interview with New Zealand's 1News.

“I worry about Harry Potter fans because they should be over that by now,” she said. “It was 25 years ago, and it’s for children. I think it’s for children.”

Margolyes is puzzled by adults who remain obsessed with the series they grew up with, citing peculiar requests she receives on Cameo, where she creates personalized videos for fans.

“They get stuck in it,” she remarked. “I do Cameos, and people say, ‘Oh, we’re having a Harry Potter-themed wedding,’ and I think, ‘Gosh, what’s their first night of fun going to be?’ I can’t even think about it. No.”

Acknowledging the franchise's appeal, Margolyes reiterated: “It’s over.”

Featured image credit: Dave Benett/Getty

The British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes has recalled how she wanted UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to die" from coronavirus due to his handling of the pandemic.

The 78-year-old national treasure - who is perhaps best known for appearing as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter movies and for her role in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence  - made the comments while appearing on a special at-home episode of Channel 4's comedy talk show The Last Leg.

Watch Margolyes make her comments to the stunned presenters in the video below:

[[jwplayerwidget||https://content.jwplatform.com/videos/WrGkJ7Mx-sKUnNGKf.mp4||WrGkJ7Mx]]

When asked by host Adam Hills how she thought the government had handled the outbreak, she replied:

"Appallingly, of course, appallingly. It’s a disgrace, it’s a scandal. It’s a public scandal. I had difficulty not wanting Boris Johnson to die.

"I wanted him to die. Then I thought that will reflect badly on me and I don’t want to be the sort of person that wants people to die.

"So then I wanted him to get better, which he did do, he did get better. But he didn’t get better as a human being. And I really would prefer that.

"So we’re in the s**t, basically, here."

Unsurprisingly, Margolyes' comments prompted some nervous laughter from the show's presenters, as comedians Adam Hills and Josh Widdicombe put their heads in their hands.

And despite saying that she did eventually go back on those thoughts, Margolyes still faced a backlash from viewers on Twitter for even making the comments in the first place:

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/HG_hsewife/status/1258877428962865153]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/animalmad08/status/1258878741163520000]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/rossburge/status/1258878665317851138]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/gemdolla/status/1258877005644345346]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/dykawatson50/status/1258875703971512323]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/northern_rants/status/1258876194562412546]]

However, there were also some viewers who applauded the legendary actress for her honesty:

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/bethanyywhitakr/status/1258884869402308608]]

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/DeanAndrews50/status/1258878761870807046]]

Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that he had been diagnosed with the novel coronavirus back on March 27. He revealed the news on his official Twitter account, saying:

"Over the last 24 hours I have developed mild symptoms and tested positive for coronavirus. I am now self-isolating, but I will continue to lead the government’s response via video-conference as we fight this virus. Together we will beat this. #StayHomeSaveLives"

[[twitterwidget||https://twitter.com/BorisJohnson/status/1243496858095411200]]

After the PM's condition worsened, he was transferred to the intensive care unit at St Thomas' Hospital in London on April 6. He was released from the ICU three days later on April 9.

Less than three weeks later, Johnson and his partner Carrie Symonds announced the birth of their first son.