Miriam Margolyes, 77, on why she wants to talk to her enemies, the support of her mother and her very particular knickers from Amsterdam…
What is your earliest childhood memory?
I was sitting in my pram outside our house. A lady came up to me and said, “Now if you suck your thumb like that the big bad man is going to come and cut it off.” I remember thinking, “What a stupid woman. Does she think I believe that? The idiot.” I just knew that she was talking through her bottom.
Where does your acting talent come from?
All of my talents, whatever I have, come from my mother. Mummy really wanted to be an actress herself but of course nice Jewish girls didn’t do that then. But she never lost the ability to be dramatic in every way. My mother did everything possible to give me confidence and make me feel special and talented.
What is the best thing about your job?
The best thing about being an actress is being with people during rehearsals. I simply love the camaraderie, the jokes and the talks. We had larks on Call the Midwife. I was the newbie but everyone was so welcoming. It’s the people that you work with that make it special. People call us “luvvies” in the most derogatory way. They shouldn’t. Luvvie means people who love. We love each other and we love our work.
What are your pet hates?
Esta historia es de la edición May 2019 de Woman & Home.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor ? Conectar
Esta historia es de la edición May 2019 de Woman & Home.
Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 8500 revistas y periódicos.
Ya eres suscriptor? Conectar
Welcome to ENGLISH WINE COUNTRY
Ellen Himelfarb discovers palate-tingling wines and warm hospitality among the sunlit slopes and flint villages of Sussex
Naturally STYLISH
Combining mindfulness ideas and natural materials, this country house - built by Lisa and David Wallace – exudes beauty, calm and serenity
Make ANXIETY Your superpower
Embracing worrying thoughts might be more beneficial than suppressing them, says Samantha Wood
I hope the kids have my self-confidence
Author and presenter Richard Madeley reflects on the early days of parenting, and watching his family grow
Love..OR LIES?
Romance fraud is, sadly, on the increase - meet two women affected and find out how to stay safe
WHAT IT'S LIKE TO BE A...PROBATION OFFICER
Meet Sarah Port, 40, deputy head of the Probation Delivery Unit in North Essex
Could YOU live on your PENSION?
Surviving on the minimum retirement living standard for a week shocked Faith Archer into increasing her contributions
We're having a FASHION moment
And long may it continue, says Wendy Rigg, charting the rise of midlife fashion
There really is NO PLACE LIKE HOME
But when Yorkshire-woman Sharon Wright fetched up in Surbiton, which would hold that special place in her affections?
Older & bolder
One of our favourite comedians, Helen Lederer, has finally sent imposter syndrome to Room 101