Miriam Margolyes has never been one to mince her words, and she has no intention of changing any time soon. The BAFTA-winning actress, 85, is almost as well known for her outrageous comments and quips as she is for her impressive work in film and television.
Over the weekend, she delighted fans at the Sheffield Documentary Festival, sharing a slew of scandalous stories, including one particularly eye-raising anecdote about the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Miriam, who was appointed an OBE in 2002 for Services to Drama, recalled meeting the revered monarch in the mid-2000s at Buckingham Palace, where the Queen was hosting an event for World Book Week.
However, despite being a huge fan of Her Majesty, she suspects the feeling was not mutual. 'I met the Queen a while ago, when she was still alive,' she recalled. 'It was at a do, and she said to me, “What do you do?” I said, like an idiot, “I'm the best reader of stories in the whole world.” What a f***ing idiot. Obviously, she rolled her eyes and thought, “God almighty.” I don't think she liked me at all.'
But the Harry Potter actress clarified she has no such issues with the current Queen. 'We have another Queen now whom I really like,' she said, as the Sheffield audience giggled. 'I really like Camilla, I think she's a good egg and very good for the King. She makes him happy, and I don't have any judgmental stuff about that.'
Alongside collaborator Simon Draper, she was at the festival to discuss their recent BBC feature, Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, and why bold storytelling matters in a fragile public sphere.
Within minutes of appearing on stage inside the Lyceum, she showcased why the event was titled 'No Filter' as she told her adoring audience that half of them were probably overweight.
'I've always been fat, and you're not supposed to say you're fat now. You're not supposed to say to somebody else that they're fat, even if they are,' the star mused.
'The likelihood is that most of this audience is overweight,' she added as the theatre burst into roaring laughter.
'The reason I tell people that they're fat is not to make them unhappy, or shame them in any way, it's to say: “For God's sake, get fit and lose some weight” or you'll end up like me. That would be terrible because I've got spinal problems. I lost height - I didn't lose weight. I didn't have much height to begin with - I'm as broad as I was long. That is a shame so that's why I say that.'
'Listen to me, folks. It's all right now if you're young to be fat,' Miriam wrapped up her warning, adding, 'If you keep the fat and it piles on - you piss yourself! It's true, you do.'
In Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, the viewer follows the titular star and BAFTA-winning director Simon on trips from London to Australia, for performances on stage and catch-ups with old pals.
The original plan was to make a podcast with Miriam, but as Simon filmed the outspoken star on his phone over the course of two years, a candid, hilarious documentary was born.
But ironically, she is not a big fan of celebrity-led documentaries. She declared: 'Celebrities somehow cut themselves off [during the filming of a documentary]. I mean, what's her name, married to the footballer? Victoria Beckham, I've never met Victoria Beckham, I've no interest.
'If she walked across the stage, I wouldn't know what she looked like, except I think she's got a wonderful body and she probably works at it very hard. I worked very hard to get this fat!'
Savagely, she continued: 'I'm not interested in her mind. I'm not sure she's got one. She's just got a purse and money and that isn't interesting on its own. But a documentary that meets people, that is interesting.'
What could Posh Spice do to gain her approval? 'If Victoria Beckham were vulnerable and showed herself,' she mused. 'You know, discussing being hurt by her son who won't speak to them, I'm told. That would be interesting, don't you think? I want to see people not being perfect. I want them to be interested in the imperfect, and I think that's what good documentaries do.'
Known for her unfiltered personality, she has rocked the boat several times over recent years, thanks to on-air swearing, sharing her political views, and admitting she thinks Harry Potter fans need to 'grow up and move on'.
Miriam, who appeared in two of the Potter movies, admitted she has no fear about possibly saying the wrong thing, as she never intends to offend and thinks cancel culture as a whole needs to end - with the exception of one person.
'There is too much of this “cancelling” thing and I don't like that. I think we should be able to say things. But on the other hand, Nigel Farage - he should be cancelled,' she said to a huge round of applause.
The talk in Sheffield came one day after a far-right march took place in the Yorkshire city. The protest, organised by Raise the Colours, a group that campaigns against immigration, led to five people being arrested on Saturday.
While Miriam did not directly acknowledge the counter-protest during her event, she made her feelings on the hatred sweeping the country clear.
'We'll pay for the truth, but we don't want lies. Get out, Farage, get out,' she declared during a chat about fake news and misinformation.
'Do the right thing. People are human beings. We all sh** out of the same hole. But we're human beings, treat people like human beings, and don't automatically assume that because somebody's got brown skin that they're going to rape you. They're not going to rape you, it might just as well be somebody with white skin. Think about that then. What's the matter with people?
'Just be kind, be open - and it really helps if you tell the truth.'
