Like us on Facebook
Follow us on Instagram
 

Miriam Margolyes on Baring It All, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and ‘Harry Potter’

Photo Credit: David M. Benett / Dave Benett / Getty Images
Photo Credit: David M. Benett / Dave Benett / Getty Images

When asked who her least favorite co-star was, actress Miriam Margolyes didn’t hesitate to call out Arnold Schwarzenegger – and you’ll never believe why! She also opened up about her views on her Harry Potter role and baring it all for British Vogue at 82.

Margolyes had a smelly situation

The 81-year-old British-Australian actress recently shared some hilarious tidbits about her acting career on the I Got News For You podcast. When asked who her least favorite actor to work with was, Margolyes remarked that she “didn’t care for” her End of Days co-star and former governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger.

Miriam Margolyes
Actress Miriam Margolyes on the BBC Breakfast show, 2006 (Photo Credit: Jeff Overs / BBC News & Current Affairs via Getty Images)

Margolyes recounts that while filming End of Days in 1999, “rude” Schwarzenegger farted on her face. “Now, I fart, of course I do – but I don’t fart in people’s faces. He did it deliberately, right in my face,” Margolyes explained.

The fateful incident

Schwarzenegger plays Jericho, an ex-cop tasked with fighting Satan, who has arrived in New York City in search of a bride just days before the world rings in the start of a new millennium. If Jericho fails to spoil Satan’s plans to wed and have a child with a mortal woman, the world will end.

Arnold Schwarzenegger and Joe Weider
Behind the scenes on the set of End of Days with Arnold Schwarzenegger and the man who first introduced him to bodybuilding, Joe Weider. (Photo Credit: Beacon Pictures / Universal Studios via. MovieStillsDB)

The fateful incident occurred while filming a scene where Schwarzenegger‘s character tries to kill Margolye’s character. “I was playing Satan’s sister and he was killing me, so he had me in a position where I couldn’t escape and lying on the floor. And he just farted,” Margolyes said. “It wasn’t on film, it was in one of the pauses, but I haven’t forgiven him for it.”

Margolyes’ appearance on the Australian I Got News For You podcast was to promote her travel series Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked, which airs on local Australian TV. According to PEOPLE Magazine, Schwarzenegger’s representative has chosen to remain silent about Arnold’s “cheeky” situation. Hopefully, Schwarzenegger will stick to beating up bad guys instead of breaking wind.

Topless photoshoot

Margolyes didn’t stop with her interview about Schwarzenegger. She has appeared in even more press lately, sharing other juicy tidbits about her life and career, many of which are equally as surprising. Perhaps the most iconic of these recent interviews was with British Vogue, as it was accompanied by a topless photo shoot that appeared on the magazine’s cover: Miriam Margolyes in only a pearl necklace, hiding behind a pair of cookies.

Miriam Margolyes appears on the set of The Graham Norton Show
Miriam Margolyes on the set of The Graham Norton Show, January 9, 2020. (Photo Credit: Isabel Infantes/ PA Images/ Getty Images)

She was asked to feature in the magazine’s Pride issue as one of three cover stars. Margolyes talked about her life, career, and eccentricity, for which she is well-loved. She said, “I’m still a bit of a child. I can’t resist naughtiness.” Aside from the silliness, she also got candid about her body, not that it stopped her from bearing it all for her photo shoot at 82: “I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley. But I hate my body (…) But you just make the best of it. You have to. You do the best you can.”

Hot takes on ‘Harry Potter’

She also didn’t shy away from talking about the role for which she is best known, the beloved Professor Sprout in the hit movie franchise Harry Potter. Margolyes’ comments might devastate some fans, but she said the role “doesn’t mean as much to me as it does to them.” She only appeared in two of the franchise movies, Chamber of Secrets and Deathly Hallows: Part 2, and notoriously didn’t like any of them.

Miriam Margolyes dressed as Professor Sprout
Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout in a publicity still for Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. (Photo Credit: thankstome / Warner Bros. / MovieStillsDB)

More from us: Magical Facts We Learned from Watching the ‘Harry Potter’ 20th Anniversary Reunion

She went on to say, “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.” Margolyes also admitted some time ago that she had never read any of the books, and likely never will, instead wanting to focus her future efforts on recording more audiobooks and creating a documentary about the Israel and Palestine conflict.

Elisabeth Edwards

Elisabeth Edwards is a public historian and history content writer. After completing her Master’s in Public History at Western University in Ontario, Canada Elisabeth has shared her passion for history as a researcher, interpreter, and volunteer at local heritage organizations.

She also helps make history fun and accessible with her podcast The Digital Dust Podcast, which covers topics on everything from art history to grad school.

In her spare time, you can find her camping, hiking, and exploring new places. Elisabeth is especially thrilled to share a love of history with readers who enjoy learning something new every day!

The Digital Dust Podcast

linkedin.com/in/elisabethcedwards