Miriam Margolyes Declares Herself' Unapologetically Woke' and a 'Left-Wing Dyke' on Irish Television

British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes delivered a characteristically candid and unapologetic television appearance on Ireland's The Late Late Show on October 10, 2025, where she openly embraced her identity as a lesbian and progressive activist. The 84-year-old performer, best known for her role as Professor Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter films, was promoting her new book, The Little Book of Miriam, when host Patrick Kielty asked about her outspoken political views .

When questioned about being described as"woke," Margolyes responded with enthusiasm and clarity:"I am. I'm a left-wing dyke and I love it. I love being a lesbian. I'm not going to apologize for that. It's great fun" . Her declaration was met with applause and laughter from the studio audience, demonstrating the warmth with which her authenticity was received .

Margolyes has been openly lesbian since 1966, living authentically for nearly six decades despite facing challenges from family and society. In a 2023 interview with British Vogue, she reflected on her journey, stating:"I've never had any shame about being gay. I like being gay. I wouldn't want to be straight for anything" .

A significant portion of Margolyes' Late Late Show appearance focused on her vocal support for Palestinians and her perspective as a Jewish woman critical of the Israeli government's actions. The actress emphasized the crucial distinction between Jewish people and the Israeli state, declaring:"It's very important people realize all Jewish people are not killers. It's just a section of the Israeli people that are like that, not Jewish people. And I want that to be known and understood" .

While condemning the October 7 Hamas attacks, Margolyes expressed her deep concern about the trajectory of Israeli policy and its impact on the Jewish community's moral standing."I don't want us to be changed by Hitler, by the Holocaust, into nasty people. I won't have it. I won't be changed," she stated passionately .

The actress revealed that her outspoken stance has come at a personal cost. She confirmed that she has lost friends and family members over her political views, acknowledging that"it hurts" when people she cares about no longer wish to speak with her because they view her as a traitor . During her interview with host Patrick Kielty, Margolyes spoke about witnessing the oppression of Palestinians firsthand during visits to Israel, describing what she saw as fundamentally wrong .

Margolyes' activism extends far beyond her personal visibility as an openly lesbian woman. She has become an increasingly vocal advocate for transgender rights in recent years, demonstrating a willingness to evolve and learn. The actress has shared how a conversation with actress Zoe Terakes helped her understand the importance of respecting pronouns."If you can make somebody happy by calling them'they' instead of'he or she,' why not do it?" she explained."It doesn't matter about grammar" .

This support for transgender people has put Margolyes at odds with Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling, whose views on transgender issues have generated significant controversy. Margolyes has publicly defended her younger Harry Potter co-stars who have distanced themselves from Rowling over these views. In an interview with The Telegraph last year, she argued it was unrealistic to expect people to remain silent on issues that mattered to them."They're grown up and they have opinions. So why can't they give their opinions? That's fair to me," she said."They shouldn't be trammelled because they once were in a film that somebody wrote" .

Earlier in 2025, Margolyes stated that Rowling was"too harsh" in her views on the transgender community . This position has become particularly relevant as Rowling recently reignited her public disagreement with Emma Watson, criticizing the Harry Potter star in a lengthy post on X and accusing her of being"ignorant" about real-world struggles .

Margolyes has also campaigned for LGBTQ+-friendly policies on an international scale, including supporting efforts to secure a safe host country for the 2030 World Cup through the"Big Gay Donation" initiative .

The Late Late Show appearance was part of Margolyes' promotional tour for her new book, The Little Book of Miriam, which is described as a collection of reflections and stories from her extraordinary life . According to the book's description, it is"packed with her wit, wisdom and unfiltered stories" and serves as"a memory palace of Miriam's extraordinary life's standout moments, opinions and conclusions." The promotional material notes that"this is a woman who knocked back Warren Beatty, played to an audience of two thousand naked lesbians, injected sex into the Cadbury's Caramel Bunny and was Vogue's cover star aged 83" .

Throughout her decades-long career, Margolyes has built a reputation for fearless honesty and refusing to conform to expectations of how celebrities, particularly older women, should behave. The BAFTA-winning actress is known for being forthcoming with her stories, opinions, and thoughts on all subjects, from her admiration of Laurence Olivier to her disagreements with John Cleese .

This refusal to self-censor has occasionally generated controversy, but it has also made her a beloved figure within LGBTQ+ communities and among audiences who value authenticity. Her willingness to speak truth to power, even at personal cost, exemplifies a form of activism that prioritizes moral conviction over social comfort or professional advancement.

Margolyes' Late Late Show appearance highlights the complex intersection of multiple identities and how they inform political activism. As a Jewish lesbian woman who came of age in an era of far less acceptance, her perspectives are shaped by decades of navigating marginalization while maintaining pride in who she is. Her criticism of Israeli government policy, articulated from her position as a Jewish woman deeply concerned about the ethical trajectory of the Jewish community, demonstrates how identity can inform rather than limit political critique.

Similarly, her evolution on transgender issues—from someone who needed education to someone who actively advocates for respecting pronouns—models the kind of growth and learning that intergenerational LGBTQ+ solidarity requires. At 84, Margolyes represents a generation of lesbian activists who fought for visibility and rights in an era when doing so carried severe consequences, yet she refuses to rest on those laurels or view LGBTQ+ advocacy as complete.

Margolyes' comments have drawn both praise and criticism online, but the actress has made clear that she is not concerned about potential offense."It hurts when people you're fond of don't want to talk to you anymore because they think you're a traitor," she acknowledged."But I am who I am, and I'm not going to apologize for it" .

The positive reception in the Late Late Show studio—with applause and laughter greeting her declarations—suggests that many audiences appreciate her unvarnished honesty and courage in speaking uncomfortable truths .

Margolyes' appearance serves as a reminder that authentic representation matters at every age, and that activism often requires the willingness to be unpopular, to lose relationships, and to speak difficult truths. Her description of herself as"unapologetically woke" reclaims a term frequently used as a pejorative, asserting that caring about social justice, equality, and human rights is not something to be mocked but celebrated. As she continues to use her platform to advocate for Palestinian rights, LGBTQ+ equality, and progressive values, Miriam Margolyes demonstrates that age need not diminish one's commitment to justice or willingness to evolve.