TV Director's Sacrifice for Miriam Margolyes Documentary
When television director Simon Draper embarked on a project to create a podcast with national treasure Miriam Margolyes, he had no idea it would lead him to sell his cherished possessions and travel across the world. The resulting documentary, Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, charts this extraordinary journey that transformed his life in unexpected ways.
An Unlikely Collaboration
In 2024, Draper found himself without work and decided to reconnect with Margolyes, a former collaborator known for her outrageous anecdotes and iconic role in the Harry Potter films. The 84-year-old actress agreed to participate in what was pitched as her "final act" – a podcast series that Draper planned to document for a film.
Margolyes welcomed Draper into her home, allowing him to film the podcast's development. However, after completing just one episode, she announced she was heading to Australia for an extensive tour. Faced with the prospect of his documentary suffering, Draper made a drastic decision.
The Sacrifice Down Under
Draper sold his entire guitar collection to finance his trip to Australia, where he hoped to continue filming Margolyes. Upon arrival, he discovered her lifestyle was anything but conducive to podcast production. Instead of working on the audio series, Draper found himself becoming Margolyes' personal assistant – performing tasks like helping with her shoes, fetching coffee, and even hanging her underwear on hotel balconies.
"She has the amazing power to draw the people-pleaser out of everyone, including me," Draper admits in the documentary. Despite the frustrations, he witnessed pivotal moments in Margolyes' career resurgence, including sell-out shows at Sydney Opera House and her revelation of earning over £320,000 from Cameo requests.
Unexpected Friendship Forms
The documentary captures moving scenes that reveal the deepening bond between the two. In one particularly intimate moment, Draper accompanies a worried Margolyes to a hospital appointment for a spinal injection. "I'm not chipper this morning, but I will be," the usually outspoken star tells him, clearly grateful for his presence.
Draper became increasingly inspired by Margolyes' honesty, bluntness, and unique way of expressing affection, which he says "seems to make people feel alive." What began as a professional project evolved into a profound personal experience that changed his perspective.
Life-Changing Chaos
Reflecting on the experience, Draper said: "I thought getting Miriam Margolyes to make a podcast would be easy, after all, everyone's doing them, but Miriam's lifestyle is bonkers." He added: "In two years, we made just five episodes, but hanging out with her was life-changing. Mim's a woman with strong opinions and a weak bladder, and I feel lucky to have been able to capture all the chaos and sparkle of the bravest, most honest person I know."
The documentary ultimately reveals that their companionship proved more valuable than any podcast could have been. Draper returned home without his guitar collection but enriched by an experience that forms the heart of Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, which airs on BBC Two.
