Miriam Margolyes English actress Date of Birth: 18.05.1941 Country: Great Britain

1. Biography of Miriam Margolyes
2. Early Career
3. Career Breakthrough
4. Voice Acting and Mainstream Success
5. Recent Projects

Biography of Miriam Margolyes

Miriam Margolyes is a British actress, known for her distinctive and often comedic roles. She was born on May 18, 1941, in Oxford, England. After studying at Cambridge, she began her acting career on the radio with the BBC. Over the next decade, Margolyes' voice could be heard in numerous television commercials and radio programs.

Early Career

Until the mid-1970s, Margolyes had not found much success in film. Her roles in British projects such as "The Battle of Billy's Pond," "On a Paving Stone Mounted," and "Crystal Gazing," as well as more notable American films like "Yentl" and "The Little Shop of Horrors," did not bring her widespread fame. However, in 1988, Margolyes caught a wave of success with her role as the flirtatious Flora in the two-part drama "Little Dorrit," based on the novel by Charles Dickens. This was followed by her participation in the crime comedy "I Love You to Death" as Kevin Kline's disgruntled mother, a successful touring female show called "Woomen, Lovely Woomen," and an unsuccessful sitcom called "Frannie's Turn."

Career Breakthrough

In 1993, Margolyes received the greatest acclaim of her career for her role as the sharp-tongued and elderly Mrs. Mingott in Martin Scorsese's romantic drama "The Age of Innocence." Many expected Margolyes, who was nominated for an Oscar, to win the coveted award for her portrayal of Mrs. Mingott, but it did not happen. Nevertheless, she continued to receive prominent roles in ambitious films such as "Immortal Beloved," a historical drama about the love life of Ludwig van Beethoven. She also starred in the horror comedy "Ed and His Dead Mother," portraying the very mother that her beloved son (played by Steve Buscemi) brought back from the dead, unaware of the consequences of his risky actions.

Voice Acting and Mainstream Success

In addition to her on-screen work, Margolyes made a name for herself in the field of voice acting. She lent her voice to the films "Babe," and its sequel "Babe: Pig in the City," voicing the persistent dog named Fly. She also contributed her voice to animated films such as "Mulan," "Balto," "Flushed Away," and "Chicken Run." Margolyes appeared in mainstream films such as the drama "Magnolia" and the action film "End of Days" with Arnold Schwarzenegger. In 2002, she landed a role that made her a star, particularly among younger audiences who adored her character, Professor Pomona Sprout, in the film "Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets."

Recent Projects

In her future plans, Margolyes has more voice acting roles in animated films, including "Night Guards," "Sir Billy," and "The Water Warriors." She is also set to return for another installment in the "Harry Potter" film series, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2" in 2011.