Miriam Margolyes, best known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout in the “Harry Potter” series, has shared candid reflections on her declining health and the impact it has on her acting career. At 84, Margolyes revealed in a recent interview that she believes she has only a few years left to live.
“When you know that you haven’t got long to live — and I’m probably going to die within the next five or six years, if not before — I’m loath to leave behind performing,” Margolyes said. “It’s such a joy. I yearn to play the roles that don’t confine me to wheelchairs, but I’m just not strong enough.”
In 2023, Margolyes underwent an aortic valve replacement using a cow’s valve, a procedure that spared her from more invasive open-heart surgery. Despite the surgery’s success, she continues to struggle with pain and mobility issues caused by spinal stenosis, arthritis, and rheumatism.
“I’ve got a cow’s heart now,” she explained. “Well, not the whole heart. I’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve. I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”
Margolyes also expressed that she is gradually stepping away from performing. In a 2024 interview with The Express, she said, “In a way, what I’m doing now is saying goodbye to Edinburgh because I doubt I’ll ever come back to work there again. I’ll come back to see other shows, but I’m 83, I’ve got various conditions that make it hard to walk. I’m often in pain.”
The beloved actress’s openness highlights the challenges aging performers face and her enduring passion for the craft despite health setbacks.
