Witty, outspoken, eccentric; Miriam Margolyes may be many things, but she’s never really been a closed book. And her latest interview proves that hasn’t changed.
Margolyes, 82, was revealed on Wednesday as the cover model for British Vogue’s July edition.
The edition also featured prominent LGBTQI+ creatives Janelle Monáe and Rina Sawayama, in honour of Pride Month.
The fashion scene may not be as usual a hangout for the Harry Potter actress as it is for Monáe and Sawayama, with Margolyes admitting she “detests” shopping and instead has her clothes made by a friend.
But Margolyes made the most of her time in front of the Vogue camera, hamming it up in designer and vintage duds in all but one picture. In that one, she posed wearing nothing but jewellery behind some strategically-placed pastries.
Her interview with the magazine similarly bared all, with Britain’s ‘Naughtiest National Treasure’ speaking on everything from body image to the loss of friends during the AIDS crisis.
Here are four biggest takeaways from the Margolyes’ chat with British Vogue.
Dealing with insecurities
Speaking about her continued success in everything from books to documentaries, the actress – who lives part of the year in Australia – said she was lucky enough to still be interesting, and that not being afraid of who you are put you in a strong position.
“We’re all so insecure,” she said.
“People are frightened such a lot of the time and what I’ve always tried to do is to make people feel more relaxed, make people feel good about themselves, and just try and lessen the torture for people a bit.”
But while she preaches self-acceptance, Margolyes admitted she battled her own insecurities over her appearance.
“I like my face. I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley,” she said.
“But I hate my body. I hate big tits [and I have] a drooping belly, little twisted legs. I’m not thrilled with that.
“But you just make the best of it. You have to. You do the best you can.”
Battling prejudice
One of the things that Margolyes is in no way insecure about is her sexuality, but that doesn’t mean being an out-and-proud Jewish lesbian has always been an easy path.
The only child in a tight-knit Jewish family, Margolyes attributes her eccentric nature to her mother, who the actor has a memory of doing the housework in the nude.
But when Margolyes realised she was a lesbian and came out while studying at Cambridge, her parents did not take the news well; her mother even made her swear on the Torah that she would never have sex with another woman again.
Her family’s reaction was not completely out of place for the time, with homosexuality still illegal in the UK in 1966, although there was no specific law criminalising lesbians.
While Margolyes said she never felt any shame about her sexuality, her parents’ intolerance never stopped her from loving them.
In fact, she regrets coming out to them, as it “hurt” them.
Long-lasting love
Margolyes met her partner, Australian-born and Amsterdam-based academic Heather Sutherland, after getting cast in a BBC radio drama post-university.
They’ve been together ever since, with their relationship spanning 54 years, and a civil partnership for legal protection.
But they’ve never lived together.
“We were able to lead our lives without diminishing them,” Margolyes said.
“I didn’t want her to have to give up anything. And I didn’t want to give up anything. I wanted my cake and I wanted to eat it too. And so far, it’s worked.”
Heavy losses
Margolyes revealed she lost 34 friends during the height of the HIV epidemic, which began in 1981.
“I counted it one day, because there were so many people who had died and they were all beautiful, talented, funny, gifted boys,” she said.
The severity of the crisis led to her volunteering with the Project Angel Food charity while living in LA, delivering meals to those too sick to leave the house.
“I didn’t always know their names. I just knew their addresses. They were on their own all day. These tiny hunted faces looking out the window. It was awful.”
