“People who were gay were pitied and ridiculed by my parents - they had no modern sense of people being allowed to be who they were.”

British and Australian actress and comedian

Miriam Margolyes is a British and Australian actress and comedian. Born in 1941, she is known for character roles on film, television, and stage, and for a long career that has made her a familiar screen presence. She won the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for playing Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s The Age of Innocence (1993). She also became widely known for portraying Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films from 2001 to 2011. In 2002, she was appointed OBE for services to drama.