Miriam Margolyes: "I’m a left-wing dyke and I love it."
– 2 min read
BAFTA-winning actress Miriam Margolyes made a memorable appearance on Ireland’s The Late Late Show with Patrick Kielty, where she proudly described herself as “unapologetically woke” and a “left-wing dyke".
The 84-year-old star, known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, was promoting her new book The Little Book of Miriam when Kielty asked her about her outspoken political views. Margolyes responded with characteristic candour:
“I am. I’m a left-wing dyke and I love it. I love being a lesbian. I'm not going to apologise for that. It's great fun.”
Her declaration was met with applause and laughter, as she continued to speak openly about her identity, politics, and activism. Margolyes also addressed her support for Gaza, emphasising her perspective as a Jewish woman and the importance of distinguishing between Jewish people and the actions of the Israeli government.
“It’s very important people realise all Jewish people are not killers,” she said. “It’s just a section of the Israeli people that are like that, not Jewish people. And I want that to be known and understood.”
Margolyes has long been a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. She came out as a lesbian in 1966 and has lived openly ever since, despite facing challenges from her family and society. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, she reflected on her journey: “I’ve never had any shame about being gay. I like being gay. I wouldn’t want to be straight for anything.”
Her activism extends beyond visibility. Margolyes has used her platform to support trans rights, notably sharing how she became a trans ally after a conversation with actress Zoe Terakes helped her understand the importance of respecting pronouns. “If you can make somebody happy by calling them ‘they’ instead of ‘he or she,’ why not do it?” she said. “It doesn’t matter about grammar.”
In recent years, she’s also campaigned for LGBTQ+-friendly policies, including supporting efforts to secure a safe host country for the 2030 World Cup through the “Big Gay Donation” initiative.
Margolyes’ appearance on The Late Late Show was part of her promotional tour for The Little Book of Miriam, a collection of reflections and stories from her life.
