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, 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.”
