At 83, Margolyes has enjoyed a remarkable career, appearing in a variety of family-friendly films like Babe and Flushed Away, as well as in acclaimed roles such as in Baz Luhrmann’s award-winning Romeo + Juliet and her work on stage.
In a recent interview, the beloved actress gave a heartbreaking update on her health, leaving the internet in shock.
“She’s an absolute legend. A wonderful person and will be a great loss,” one fan expresses.
Another writes: “She’s awesome. She’s been an advocate for justice and inclusion and we will be losing another of the good ones but her legacy is of amazing warmth and wisdom. I will miss her.”
“There must be something in the Wizarding World to save this one!” another pens.
In 2002, Margolyes was honored with an OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire) for her contributions to drama.
She has also earned a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role for The Age of Innocence and Best Supporting Actress at the LA Critics Circle Awards for Little Dorrit.
When asked about her career earlier this year, the British-Australian actress stated: “I love making people laugh. I’ve done that all my life.”
Many people will remember Margolyes as Professor Sprout from the Harry Potter series.
Earlier this year, she made headlines by telling adult fans of the iconic film series to “grow up” and “get over it.”
Renowned for her direct and outspoken personality, the star stirred up a heated debate among fans at the time.
“I do Cameos (personalized video messages) and people say they are doing a Harry Potter-themed wedding, and I think, ‘Oh gosh what is their first night of fun going to be?’ I can’t even think about it. Harry Potter is wonderful, I’m very grateful to it. It’s over. That’s what I think,” she said in an interview with New Zeland’s 1News.
Last year, Margolyes disclosed that she had undergone heart surgery.
In an interview on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, she gave more details about the surgery, saying, “I’ve got a cow’s heart now.” She clarified, “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.”
According to the Mayo Clinic, a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) is a procedure used to replace a narrowed aortic valve that doesn’t open fully.
During a TAVR procedure, a doctor replaces a damaged aortic valve with a new one made from cow or pig heart tissue.
Margolyes also suffers from spinal stenosis, a condition where the space within the spine is too narrow. According to the Mayo Clinic: “This can put pressure on the spinal cord and nerves that travel through the spine.”
Despite her recent health issues, the Call The Midwife star says she plans to keep working.
In an interview with the Radio Times, she shared: “I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralyzed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me. I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner.”
For the first time in 12 years, despite her recent heart surgery and spinal condition, Margolyes will perform at the world’s largest performing arts festival, the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. She will bring to life some of the most vivid and iconic characters from Charles Dickens’ novels.
In a recent interview with The Telegraph, she discussed how her medical conditions are impacting her acting career.
Margolyes remarked: “I yearn to play roles that don’t confine me to wheelchairs, but I’m just not strong enough.” She added that her health problems are ‘limiting and depressing.’
The actress confessed that she feels like her life is approaching its end.
“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. It’s such a joy,” she shared.
