“I’m a silly little needy person sometimes, and I crouch in a room all alone and think of all the people that I wish were with me.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I want a comfortable old age and to be looked after – I have arthritis – and money is a factor.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Sydney has taken my money, Melbourne has my respect, but Adelaide has taken my heart; I shall return.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t have a very positive attitude towards rappers.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“What most infuriates me is the cell phones. If I see someone texting during the show, I walk off the stage.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“While researching my ancestry I have unearthed many skeletons. It would seem that I come from a long line of ne’er-do-wells, especially on my mother’s side.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My vocabulary is vast and expert, and I don’t think I overuse any word.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My father was a doctor, so I thought I was going to be a doctor, too, but I couldn’t do maths; I couldn’t do science. I was hopeless at chemistry.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t for a second regret my closeness to them because they were wonderful, golden parents who gave me so much confidence.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I think life is sweeter shared; and if anything were to happen to my partner, I would find it really hard without her because she’s the perfect person for my life.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Confidence was the backbone of my upbringing. I was an only child, so I was spoilt, loved, and given an enormous amount of confidence by my parents.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“The main fear about growing old as an actor is not losing the looks. I never had any to speak of, and what I had I’ve still got, but losing the memory is another matter.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Unfortunately, I don’t know many black people.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“People who were gay were pitied and ridiculed by my parents – they had no modern sense of people being allowed to be who they were.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“The curious thing is that I embraced homosexuality with as much joy and delight as I’ve embraced everything else in my life.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I think all actors get scared because we’re frightened to disappoint.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I may have a talent for acting, but I am incapable of doing anything else.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“The first piece of property that I bought was in Tuscany in 1973.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I love political cartoons from the 19th century, and whenever I complete a piece of acting work that I’m particularly proud of, be it a film or play, I treat myself to a picture by caricaturist James Gillray.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Old people have a much better time in India because they’re respected.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I wouldn’t consider retiring to India: there are too many people, and it’s difficult walking along the pavements. I’d love to spend two or three months a year there.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I have a class prejudice – against the upper class, which is foolish.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, I would say, ‘Lose weight.’”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’ve been fat my whole life and pretended I don’t mind. But I do mind. It’s really stupid that I’ve gone on being greedy and fat.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’m going to be 75 in May. How can I have lived this long and not know anything?”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I still miss my parents every day; I adored them. And when you have no children, friends are even more important to you.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I used to get into bed with my mother every morning, almost until she died, and talk about everything. She was my closest confidante always. I had no secrets from her.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Although my parents both liked her, they just didn’t approve of a same-sex relationship. Nowadays, people say that you must let children be what they are, but when I was growing up, the parents defined the child – and my parents had a definite vision of how they wanted me to be.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My feeling is that the English are naturally anti-Semitic.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Nobody likes Jews. You can’t say people like Jews. We’re not popular. We’re too smart to be liked. But it has been unacceptable to express anti-Semitism since the Holocaust.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t like religion.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“There’s a strong melancholic streak in me.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“People tend to think I’m funny and fluffy, but I can switch on a sixpence from extreme happiness to utter despair. I’m aware that doesn’t make it easy for people sometimes.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My mother died of a stroke in 1974, and for a long time, I blamed myself. She was utterly devastated when I told her I was a lesbian not long before.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Glenda Jackson called me an amateur in 1976 when we were in a play, ‘The White Devil.’ I’ve never forgiven her.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I had a very good kiss from Bob Monkhouse once. I thought, ‘If I was straight, I would go for Bob.’”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I have no secrets. I decided very early on in life that the strongest position was to be completely open.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My home in Adelaide was the Adina Hotel.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Adelaide’s charms are compelling. It’s not a huge place; the size is manageable, the traffic absurdly light.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“As I get older, people do come up to me just to give me a hug.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“People seem comfortable with me. And maybe that’s got a lot to do with shows like Graham Norton. You just tell it like it is on those programs.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I do say things possibly other people don’t say. So I shouldn’t be too surprised when they are picked up.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I enjoy finding the right word and giving each its full measure, its full space in a sentence.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It’s really hard being old – it’s horrible.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Israel is stupid for allowing people to vent their anti-Semitism.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I am stopped in the street by kids and Harry Potter fans all the time.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“In terms of my development as an artist, playing Professor Sprout wasn’t all that important because she is well within my capabilities as an actress. But in terms of marketability, it made an enormous difference.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’m not a comedian, but I do make people laugh. I’m good at it.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I want to explore the range of emotions it is possible to feel.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I know that a lot of my life is spent thinking about crisps and eating crisps and hating myself for eating crisps. It’s just not worth it. Or it wouldn’t be if crisps weren’t so delicious.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I really have fallen in love with myself.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It’s shameful to admit, but it’s been a bit of a lifelong affair, and I do now feel I’m as good as it gets. I’m honourable, kind, friendly, warm, intelligent, generous, and I’ve got a good sense of humour.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’ve never been someone who is cast for having a lovely figure but for whatever qualities I could possibly bring to a role, so I’m still castable.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I think Britain is a bit class-ridden. People tend to be judged by how rounded their vowels are.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t like ‘comedy,’ I like ‘life,’ which has everything in it.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Home is wherever I hang my hat.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“From my earliest days, reading was my passion, and at Cambridge, where I studied English literature, my intellectual life deepened and grew.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My partner of 45 years is Australian, and a big part of her character is that marvellous quality of irony which Aussies possess. I relish their humour and sense of fairness.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“That’s one reason India is an attractive proposition for retiring. Servants are much more reasonable than in England. It’s not exploitation so long as you pay a proper salary.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“What’s the difference between herpes and love? Herpes is forever.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I refused to be filmed getting off a bus twice. The director said, ‘I’m an award-winning director. Please do it’, and I said, ‘I never thought I’d say this, but I’m an award-winning actress with a bad leg, and if your film depends on seeing me get in and out of a bus, we’re in trouble.’”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I should have got thin, but I eat too much. I hate the word ‘moderation.’”
― Miriam Margolyes
“As long as I am working, I am grateful and happy.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t think people realise how important it is to have your blood pressure checked. Stroke is so sudden, so catastrophic.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Mummy was absolutely the rock in my life. It was not that I didn’t love my father; he was such a quiet man, and she was not. She was the most vivid person I have ever known. She was accomplished and brave and fearless. She used to say to me, ‘I want you to be able to talk to anyone about anything.’”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Communication is something we all take for granted.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t like class distinction, and there is far too much of that in England.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’ve burnt my boats, and there they are – smouldering in public view.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I have to keep working because, although I have land, I’m not cash rich and don’t have the wealth of high-profile actresses – don’t say I’m an ‘actor.’ That’s a bit too modern.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I wish I had a million in the bank. I like round figures. I am a round figure.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’d have thought my particular brand of quirkiness, combined with sharp intelligence and a fine voice, would have yielded more. But it hasn’t. Yet!”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I cannot accept violence.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It’s very hard to talk about Palestine to Jewish people – they see me as a betrayer.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I believe Jews are compassionate people because of what we’ve suffered. We must not put that suffering onto others.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It makes me very sad. Everyone’s afraid of each other – Jews are afraid of Palestinians, Palestinians are afraid of Jews. Everywhere I see fear, not understanding. Reason went out of the window a long time ago.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I was terribly upset not to be in ‘Dickensian,’ so I pretend to look down on it. The part I should have played, Mrs. Gamp, is done brilliantly by Pauline Collins, but I entered this world for no other reason than to play that part.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I was waiting for a train at Waverley Station in Edinburgh. My knee was hurting, so I asked a young man for his seat. He replied, ‘There’s one over there’. I said, ‘Please’, and when he refused I poured my water over him.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Everything’s harder for women: harder to start, to stay employed, to run a life with a family.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’ve been very lucky – I’ve worked consistently, and I haven’t had to kiss a lot of people on stage.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I can’t recall a bad review – maybe I’m due one. But the worst thing would be if somebody said I was inaudible. Reach your audience’s ears – only then can you reach their hearts.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I very much regret that I haven’t been taken more seriously. I would love to have been at the National or the RSC.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I support children’s charities; I just don’t want them around me. It’s not very admirable, but it’s the truth.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Anti-Semitism is a rotten thing. It’s an ignorant, stupid, horrible thing. As is anti-Muslim feeling. They have to be together.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It’s so important that people know there was a time before the NHS. It makes them appreciate it more.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’ve always felt that Donald Trump was a Dickensian character because he is so ridiculous. With his hair and his arrogance, he is certainly Dickensian in his absurdity.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I want people to be open to the idea of sitting down and reading a Dickens book. They will also have a great time.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“With television, attention spans have been shortened. It’s something we have to fight against: the dumbing down of the audience. To be part of an audience is a privilege. To be with the people on stage, to let them reach you. If you’re doing a million other things, they won’t reach you.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Where I think the American actor is slightly at a disadvantage is in vocal technique. I don’t think that words are their friend in the same way that English actors are used to using words: understanding about consonance and how to shade a vowel to show emotional color.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“The American actor is much more used to being physically relaxed and using their bodies better, and English actors are a little bit unrelaxed, but they’re better at vocal technique.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I studied English literature in university, and then I went straight into radio.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I’m not sure I approve of theatre as a university course. I think theatre’s something you do. I mean, literature is a subject; theatre is practical.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Being in Australia makes me happy. My partner is Australian, and my home is in Australia, and it’s ridiculous not to be Australian – it’s a logical step to take.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I think I should be described as ‘bi’ – not bisexual, because I’m not – I’m gay – but ‘binational’ because I retain British nationality, and I add to it being Australian, which is like having your cake and eating it.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I am not the sort of person who divests myself of everything that came before I came to Australia. I want to take all the knowledge and experiences I gained when I was in England and put it at the service of Australia because I have to bring something to Australia – not just money but myself.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“It would be absurd to say I’m not British – you can hear it when I speak.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“One of the worst things about ageing is the waning of your physical powers. I live in a house with 64 stairs, and I cannot run up and down them any more; my knee has conked out.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“Getting older is a hideous experience; I’m so glad I only have to do it once. But I’ve kept my mind, my career, my relationship, and I have enough money – I’ve been blessed.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“I don’t care what I look like. I must be comfortable. Some of my friends have plastic surgery and Botox, but I’m not interested in it.”
― Miriam Margolyes
“My looks have changed, but I was never beautiful, so I’m not any less beautiful now.”
― Miriam Margolyes
Leave a Reply