‘I need to make sure I’m going to be looked after’
British-Australian actress Miriam Margolyes says she fears running out of money to pay for carers.
The 83-year-old who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter franchise spoke to the Radio Times about her worries.
She said: “I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me. I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner.
“We don’t have children, so I need to make sure I’m going to be looked after in the way that I’ve become accustomed.”
The comedian who has written three books and starred in series such as Call the Midwife and Being Julia, was diagnosed with spinal stenosis and underwent surgery last year.
The operation involved her having a transcatheter aortic valve replacement to avoid more invasive open-heart surgery.
She has been open in the past about her health struggles sharing that she can no longer walk very well. She said: “I’m registered disabled, so I use all kinds of assistance.”
Margolyes was reportedly paid £250,000 (€290,000) for her memoir and last month shared on Loose Women that she has made £365,000 (€425,000) through cameos since Covid.
Margolyes charges approximately £135 (€156) per video which lasts around two minutes and can range from any topic from advice to a birthday message.
She shared her motivation behind joining Cameo: “One day I will need carers. I want to be comfortable and I want them to be properly paid for it.”
She added: “It is really because I want to make money though and they pay me to do it.”
The Loose Women panel asked her if there’s anything she wouldn’t do for money to which she replied: “I wouldn’t eat s***. Am I allowed to say that?”
She previously turned down half a million pounds offered by Marvel because she ‘doesn’t like America’ and didn’t want to live there for four months whilst filming took place.
