Miriam Margolyes Announces Major Relationship Shift After 58 Years
Renowned actress Miriam Margolyes has made an emotional and significant announcement regarding her long-standing partnership with Heather Sutherland. The 84-year-old star, best known for roles in Call The Midwife and other productions, disclosed her intention to finally live together with her partner after spending 58 years in a relationship characterized by geographical separation.
A Lifetime of Love Spent Apart
Margolyes and Sutherland formalised their civil partnership in 2013, but have never shared a permanent home. Margolyes resides in London, while Sutherland lives in Amsterdam, where she has been based for over five decades. Despite this distance, the couple has maintained a strong bond, frequently visiting each other and owning a property together in Italy, which they hope to make their permanent residence.
The actress explained the reasons behind their living arrangement: "We were both very involved with our careers. She was a professor at a university, teaching and writing, and I was an actress and now I make television programmes as a documentary maker. Our professional commitments kept us apart."
Embracing Change in Later Life
In a heartfelt admission on the Comfort Eating with Grace Dent podcast, Margolyes expressed a renewed desire for togetherness. "I believe that but now I want to be with her, now I want us to live together. We are definitely going to," she stated. She emphasized the urgency, noting, "We are old and we won't have much longer, it's important to be together to relish the joy of each other's company."
Margolyes spoke glowingly of Sutherland, describing her as "overwhelmingly glorious and loveable and much cleverer than me." She added, "I have never thought that she wasn't sufficient, she is more than sufficient. I don't want to be the clever one."
Navigating Post-Brexit Challenges
The couple faces practical hurdles due to Brexit regulations. British citizens are limited to staying in many European nations for up to 90 days within any 180-day period without a residence permit. Margolyes revealed she has been spending more time abroad to be with Sutherland but must "come home every so often" because of visa restrictions.
To overcome this, she is considering obtaining Dutch residency. "So I'm thinking I might have to become Dutch," she told the Daily Mail. "Heather has residency in Europe because she's lived in Amsterdam for over 50 years, but we want to be together."
Career and Personal Life Intersect
Margolyes's personal journey coincides with her professional endeavors. Her latest BBC programme, Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, airs tonight at 9pm on BBC Two. Originally conceived as a podcast, it has evolved into a documentary that follows her daily life and career, including travels between London and Australia and reconnections with old friends.
The couple first met in the 1960s through a mutual friend while working on a BBC radio drama. Their enduring relationship, spanning nearly six decades, highlights a unique love story that is now poised for a new chapter of cohabitation.
