Acclaimed actress Miriam Margolyes has revealed her determination to spend her final years overseas. The 84-year-old, known for her celebrated career in stage and screen productions including the Harry Potter series, has spoken frankly about her declining health and plans to relocate abroad with her partner, Heather Sutherland.
Brexit Forces Relocation Plans
In a recent interview with Romesh Ranganathan, Margolyes discussed her intentions to leave the UK. She explained: "[Brexit] has affected my life because I can't go and live in the house that I bought, [the] first house I ever bought in Italy which is where Heather and I wanted to end our lives together." She added: "Now I'm going to have to do something about that. I'm going to have to become Dutch or Italian, I'm already Australian as well as English so how many nationalities do you have to have before you can live in the house that's yours."
Reunion Wish with David Essex
Margolyes also expressed a desire to reunite with legendary musician David Essex before she passes away. Having previously collaborated with him in the West End, she said: "By the way if David Essex watches this I'm really keen to see him again. I don't know how to get in touch with him, but he's so lovely, he's a gorgeous man, I love being with him." Speaking directly to the camera, she added: "Dave, it's Miriam, please do get in touch with me, I'm nearly 85 and I don't want to die before seeing you again. So I love you and I think you're wonderful."
Health Struggles and Candid Revelations
This is not the first time Margolyes has opened up about her health. During the same interview, she revealed how a shoulder injury has left her unable to put on a bra without assistance. Reflecting on being filmed in her bra for a documentary titled Miriam Margolyes Made Me Me, she said: "I did have that new bra on and it did me the world of good. I need several people to put it on for me and I'm on my own at the moment." She explained: "The problem is, I've got a bad shoulder, I've had it for a long time actually because I didn't know how to fall and I had to fall in a play for six months about 40 years ago, and the rotator cuff doesn't quite cuff or rotate, whatever it should do."
Other Age-Related Challenges
Margolyes also candidly discussed other challenges of being in her eighties, including a weakened pelvic floor. Speaking frankly, she said: "I p**s myself all the time and everywhere I go I always take spare knickers because you never know. And that's honestly the truth and I don't like it and I don't say it to be funny, I say it because it's true and it's a b****y nuisance."
