Miriam Margolyes addresses 'imminent demise' rumours as she shares health fears

Author and actress Miriam Margolyes has tackled speculation about her impending death whilst discussing her concerns over future health deterioration.

The Harry Potter star, who portrayed Professor Sprout in the beloved film series, quipped that her nearest brush with death occurred in the press when journalists reported on her "imminent demise."

The Oxford-born performer told the Guardian about her anxieties surrounding her life's final chapter, particularly the prospect of losing bodily autonomy.

In recent times, she has battled numerous health complications, including spinal stenosis, rheumatism, and arthritis.

Discussing what she was afraid of in the future, she revealed it was to "experience the utter powerlessness of locked-in syndrome" and expressed terror about becoming "doubly incontinent" as she got older.

This is not the first time Miriam, 84, has discussed her end-of-life preferences.

Earlier this year, the British-Australian performer informed the Daily Mail that she would choose assisted dying should her quality of life deteriorate beyond a particular threshold.

She explained: "I don't want to go through a slowly diminishing period of pain and embarrassment. If a stroke meant I couldn't speak, or I was doubly incontinent, or I lost my mind completely, I would ask to end my life. That's because I want to be who I am. I don't want to be less than I can be."

Miriam's remarks follow around two years since she underwent heart surgery. In 2023, she received a replacement aortic valve, which meant she could avoid the need for more extensive open-heart surgery.

Despite concerns that people might assume she'd undergone a complete heart transplant, she explained on Jessie and Lennie Ware's Table Manners Podcast precisely what the procedure involved.

She said: "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."

Despite her bravery when confronting health challenges, Miriam has remained frank about feeling her time is limited. During a conversation with The Times, she revealed her estimation of her remaining years.

She said: "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. I yearn to play roles that don't confine me to wheelchairs, but I'm just not strong enough."

Miriam is set to grace UK television once again in her newest programme, Miriam Margolyes Discovers New Zealand, scheduled to broadcast at 9pm tonight (August 29) on BBC Two.