The Harry Potter star says that she “never had any shame about being gay”
BY ELLA GAUCI, IMAGE BY VOGUE
Just when we thought that Miriam Margolyes couldn’t get any more iconic, everyone’s favourite cheeky celeb has posed naked for British Vogue’s July Pride issue at 82. Known for her marvellous eccentricity and potty mouth, Miriam has been a lesbian icon since 1966 when homosexuality was still illegal.
“I never had any shame about being gay or anything really,” she told British Vogue. “I knew it wasn’t criminal because it was me. I couldn’t be criminal.”
Known for her prolific roles in Blackadder, Babe and the Harry Potter franchise, Miriam posed topless in front of a platter of Bakewell tarts for Vogue as part of their Pride issue to support and amplify LGBTQIA voices. Other stars that feature in the issue include: Janelle Monae, The Last Of Us actor Bella Ramsey, and Rina Sawayama.
In her interview, Miriam added: “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.”
Miriam has been in a 54-year long relationship with Australian historian Heather Sunderland. She lived through the HIV crisis of the 80s where she tragically lost 34 friends. Miriam came out at 27 and told The Guardian that “it all came as a bit of a bombshell. I used to have crushes [on women] and they were incredibly passionate and all-consuming. I wasn’t really interested in men and I’m still not – I’m not interested in their souls, because very few men have souls.”
Miriam, we love you. Save us a Bakewell tart next time.
You can read Vogue’s full interview with the gay icon here.
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