Miriam Margolyes returns to Edinburgh Fringe with Dickens show and reflects on Glasgow roots
At 84, Margolyes dispels health rumours, returns to Edinburgh Fringe with a Charles Dickens-themed show and shares stories of her Glasgow heritage.
It was Mark Twain who joked that gossip of his death was greatly exaggerated.
So when rumours claimed 84-year-old Miriam Margolyes would miss this year’s Edinburgh Fringe due to ill health, she took to social media to set the record straight.
“I was furious. It’s strange to read you’re about to die. We’re all dying eventually. But not yet,” she said.
Back for a second year at the festival, Margolyes performs a one-woman show that weaves her own story with her lifelong passion for Charles Dickens.
Passion for Dickens
“My love for Dickens only grows,” she said. “He wrote over 14,000 letters and I still haven’t read them all. There’s simply no time, but I’m determined to try.”
Margolyes, best known for her film role in Little Dorrit, brings to life characters such as Little Nell, Miss Havisham and Mrs Micawber, showcasing her talent for vibrant storytelling.
“I never imagined I’d still be writing and performing in my 80s, but getting older opens up new possibilities. You’re not finished at 80,” she added.
Glasgow roots
Born in Oxford in 1941, Margolyes’s father hailed from the Gorbals in Glasgow. During a 2002 return visit, she tracked down her parents’ home in Pollokshields and recounted a memorable interaction with a neighbour.
“I knocked on the door and said I was working on The Vagina Monologues. The lady slammed the door to stop the neighbours from hearing the word ‘vagina,’” she recalled with a laugh.
Outspoken at any age
Margolyes remains known for her candid language and unfiltered opinions. “I’ve always been outspoken,” she said. “I enjoy using naughty words—they’re so descriptive and they give people a thrill.”
Taking a stand
Her outspoken views on Gaza, comparing Israeli actions to those of the Nazis during the Holocaust, sparked calls to remove her OBE. She stands by her comments.
“Nobody is going to cancel me,” she said. “Everyone should be free to express their opinion. What Israel is doing in Palestine is wicked and goes against our Jewish upbringing.”
Margolyes and Dickens: More Best Bits runs at Pleasance at EICC, Pentland Theatre, Edinburgh until 24 August.
Margolyes defies her age with a spirited Fringe show, celebrating Dickens and her Glasgow heritage while remaining as outspoken as ever.
This topic was reported by BBC.
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