Tag Archives: Miriam Margoyles

Miriam Margoyles: “My Parents Were Utterly Appalled That I’m Gay”

Speaking openly and candidly about her sexuality, legendary British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes has revealed how her parents reacted to her coming out.

The 74-year-old actress, said she made the brave decision to come out in 1968.

In a recent interview with Audioboom, she says

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. I didn’t tell my parents in fact until I was something like 27.

My mother was utterly appalled and disgusted and she told my father although I didn’t want her to. But she did because they shared everything. They made me swear on the Bible in the drawing room, in a most formal way, that I would never sleep with a woman again.

LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 07:  Actress  Miriam Margolyes attends the World Premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows - Part 2 at Trafalgar Square on July 7, 2011 in London, England.  (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

LONDON, ENGLAND – JULY 07: Actress
Miriam Margolyes attends the World Premiere of Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows – Part 2 at Trafalgar Square on July 7, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by Ian Gavan/Getty Images)

Extraordinary really, as my father was a doctor and in many ways he was an enlightened man especially around racism. But about homosexuality – never.”

Margolyes has been with partner Heather Sutherland for nearly five decades;

I have had a partner for nearly 50 years. We have been happy and loving and joyous and eachother, and we still are. My only fear is she will die before me, or that I will die before her – and one of them is going to happen, unless we have a suicide pact. But I don’t think she’s up for that!”

Listen below:

https://audioboom.com/boos/4158099-this-is-my-boom-miriam-margolyes