Dame Miriam Margolyes has admitted she is 'scared' of death and feels it is 'extremely close' in a new BBC documentary, Miriam Made Me Me. The 84-year-old actress, known for her roles in Harry Potter and Blackadder, reveals a vulnerable side away from the spotlight, discussing her mortality and health struggles.
In the film, Margolyes says: 'Death feels extremely close. Death feels round the corner, behind the bush just up the road. I am scared of it, and I think I probably always will be, and I'm cross about death. It's a bit of a liberty to close me up to stop me.' She expresses a wish to reach 90 'and still myself', adding she hopes to die without pain or loss of dignity.
The documentary, originally conceived as a podcast, features intimate conversations with her friend Simon Draper, filmed on his phone. It shows Margolyes preparing for a spinal injection to reduce pain, joking that if it goes wrong she wants her final words to be 'Thank you world, for a lovely ride'.
Margolyes also reflects on her career, which includes studying at Cambridge and performing in the 1962 Footlights show. She admits she would like to be remembered for her acting work. The film follows her on tour in Australia, where she performs at the Sydney Opera House, and includes a visit to a childhood friend in a care home.
The documentary is dedicated to that friend, Joyce Wiggins, who has since died. Margolyes says of her life's purpose: 'That's what my life has been, trying to make people laugh and feel better.'
