Words matter. These are the best Miriam Margolyes Quotes, and they’re great for sharing with your friends.
I had a very good kiss from Bob Monkhouse once. I thought, ‘If I was straight, I would go for Bob.’
Old people have a much better time in India because they’re respected.
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.
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.
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.
I don’t like religion.
I still miss my parents every day; I adored them. And when you have no children, friends are even more important to you.
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.
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.
I have no secrets. I decided very early on in life that the strongest position was to be completely open.
I think Britain is a bit class-ridden. People tend to be judged by how rounded their vowels are.
As I get older, people do come up to me just to give me a hug.
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.
The first piece of property that I bought was in Tuscany in 1973.
I’m going to be 75 in May. How can I have lived this long and not know anything?
Everything’s harder for women: harder to start, to stay employed, to run a life with a family.
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.
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.
It’s very hard to talk about Palestine to Jewish people – they see me as a betrayer.
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.
I cannot accept violence.
I don’t for a second regret my closeness to them because they were wonderful, golden parents who gave me so much confidence.
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.
Unfortunately, I don’t know many black people.
Anti-Semitism is a rotten thing. It’s an ignorant, stupid, horrible thing. As is anti-Muslim feeling. They have to be together.
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.
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.
As long as I am working, I am grateful and happy.
From my earliest days, reading was my passion, and at Cambridge, where I studied English literature, my intellectual life deepened and grew.
I’ve burnt my boats, and there they are – smouldering in public view.
Israel is stupid for allowing people to vent their anti-Semitism.
I studied English literature in university, and then I went straight into radio.
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.’
Glenda Jackson called me an amateur in 1976 when we were in a play, ‘The White Devil.’ I’ve never forgiven her.
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.
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.
It would be absurd to say I’m not British – you can hear it when I speak.
I believe Jews are compassionate people because of what we’ve suffered. We must not put that suffering onto others.
I don’t understand why gay people are so anxious to get married.
My vocabulary is vast and expert, and I don’t think I overuse any word.
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.
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.’
What most infuriates me is the cell phones. If I see someone texting during the show, I walk off the stage.
I wish I had a million in the bank. I like round figures. I am a round figure.
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.
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.
Communication is something we all take for granted.
My looks have changed, but I was never beautiful, so I’m not any less beautiful now.
It’s really hard being old – it’s horrible.
The curious thing is that I embraced homosexuality with as much joy and delight as I’ve embraced everything else in my life.
I support children’s charities; I just don’t want them around me. It’s not very admirable, but it’s the truth.
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.
I’ve been very lucky – I’ve worked consistently, and I haven’t had to kiss a lot of people on stage.
I should have got thin, but I eat too much. I hate the word ‘moderation.’
I am stopped in the street by kids and Harry Potter fans all the time.
I very much regret that I haven’t been taken more seriously. I would love to have been at the National or the RSC.
I don’t have a very positive attitude towards rappers.
If I could give my younger self one piece of advice, I would say, ‘Lose weight.’
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.
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.
It’s so important that people know there was a time before the NHS. It makes them appreciate it more.
I really have fallen in love with myself.
I enjoy finding the right word and giving each its full measure, its full space in a sentence.
I have a class prejudice – against the upper class, which is foolish.
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.
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.