Miriam Margolyes has become a Vogue cover star at the age of 82 – and took the opportunity to pose naked – as part of the publication’s Pride issue.
Alongside the likes of Grammy nominee and actress Janelle Monáe, singer Rina Sawayama, The Last of Us’s Bella Ramsey, Doctor Who star Ncuti Gatwa and House of the Dragon’s Emma D’Arcy, Miriam was interviewed as an LGBTQ+ pioneer and member of the community.
British Vogue’s July issue focuses on ‘Pride & Joy’ and saw the veteran actress also photographed by Tim Walker in a series of delightful shots, including a nude one.
That picture shows Miriam in a send-up of a famous photo and scene from the 2003 film Calendar Girls, starring Dame Helen Mirren, Dame Julie Walters and Celia Imrie, with the liberated actress posing topless behind a stack of iced buns.
The Harry Potter star wore only a string of pearls and pink lipstick, with her nails painted to match and her hair swept back in a bun in the glorious shot.
Meanwhile, her cover image sees her modelling a dramatic navy blue wrap over her shoulders and a black gauze fascinator over her eyes.
In other photos, she’s seen pretending to be outraged at her vanity as she’s burst in on, in a white tulle and organza dress and with rollers in her hair, and showing off a very stylish vintage houndstooth coat.
Join Metro's LGBTQ+ community on WhatsApp
With thousands of members from all over the world, our vibrant LGBTQ+ WhatsApp channel is a hub for all the latest news and important issues that face the LGBTQ+ community.
Simply click on this link, select ‘Join Chat’ and you’re in! Don't forget to turn on notifications!
Discussing her sexuality with British Vogue, the Age of Innocence and Call the Midwives actress said she would not change it for the world.
‘I actually find lesbians a bit on the boring side, because they’re a bit heavy-handed about it all,’ she admitted.
‘I think gay people are very lucky, because we are not conventional, we are a group slightly apart. It gives us an edge. We’re good artists, we’re good musicians. And I like being gay. I wouldn’t want to be straight for anything.’
She also revealed she regretted coming out to her parents, after her mother made her swear on the Torah she would never have sex with another woman again, saying that ‘it hurt them and I don’t want to hurt people’.
Having been a working actress for decades, Miriam was introduced to a younger generation thanks to her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, although she says ‘it doesn’t mean as much to me as it does to them’.
‘For me Harry Potter wasn’t important. I was very glad I got the part and I enjoyed being in it and meeting all the people, but it’s not Charles Dickens,’ she stated, potentially shattering a few hearts with her typical directness.
Miriam was recently taken care of in hospital, sharing an update on social media about her recovery which was prolonged after she developed a chest infection.
More Trending
In a Facebook post, Miriam thanked her ‘precious friends’ who thought of her on her ‘TAVI DAY’ while sharing a selfie of herself lying in bed in a hospital gown. ‘TAVI’ stands for ‘transcatheter aortic valve implantation’.
She continued: ‘I did survive and am still in The Royal Brompton Hospital certainly till Sunday. I am growing energy but it’s still not quite me. I am putting this so you know how grateful I am for lovely messages.’
The entertainer promised that she would ‘slowly’ get back to her various projects, including embarking on a book tour, before concluding her message by saying ‘loving hugs.’
The July issue of British Vogue is available via digital download and on newsstands from Tuesday June 20.
Got a story?
If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
MORE: Jennifer Lawrence wears sheer black gown to premiere of new film as director praises her clout
