Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has come under fire after comments made during a live radio appearance led to the interview segment being taken off air.
The famously outspoken actor, 83, was speaking on Radio 4’sFront Row programme to presenter Kirsty Wark when she made the comment – which has been described as ‘unexpected’ by the BBC.
Speaking about her one-woman Edinburgh Fringe show Dickens’ Woman, the actor revealed which of the author’s characters most captured her attention as a child.
‘Oh, Fagin. Without a question,’ Margolyes said, going on to describe the Oliver Twist villain as ‘Jewish and vile.’
After the audience laughed, she added: ‘I didn’t know Jews like that then – sadly, I do now.’
The James and the Giant Peach star, who is Jewish herself, outraged listeners with her comments, many of whom took to social media to express their fury at her comments.
Writing on the social media site X, fans debated whether the comments made were acceptable for a Jewish woman to make.
‘A famous woke actress from Harry Potter just spoke of Jews as: “Jewish and Vile” in comparing them to a Dickens character. The Edinburgh Festival ideologues in the audience think this is not only acceptable but hilarious,’ said an outraged AndrewGold_ok.
‘Interesting that Miriam Margolyes who is in fact Jewish, would refer to Jews as Vile,’ wrote Marilynrules1.
However, others were quick to point out that Margolyes’ comments could be read as more a statement on Fagin’s character, rather than his ethnicity or as a religion – and that she, as a Jewish woman, had every right to such opinions.
‘Hear me out, not everything is antisemetic if it is about a Jewish person or character. Fagin was despicable. Miriam Margolyes is Jewish herself, so him being Jewish might be why he stood out to her. She did not compare Jews that way, she was talking about FAGIN,’ wrote CLJ12121974, in a lengthy thread on the subject.
‘Why lie about what Miriam Margolyes said? She described Fagin as Jewish, and vile; and said she’d not (as a Jew herself) then met Jews who were vile, but now has. She was not describing “Jews” as vile,’ LevettRoblev1 pointed out.
‘Miriam Margolyes is a national treasure, she is old and can (and bloody well does) say whatever she likes about Jews, being one and all that. That’s why it’s so funny. Get a sense of humour,’ said Gonzonator1982.
The interview has since been taken down, with a spokesperson for the BBC telling Metro.co.uk that Margolyes’ words were ‘an unexpected comment’.
A statement said: ‘This was an unexpected comment made during a live broadcast which should have been challenged at the time.
‘We have taken swift action to remove it from the programme and it is no longer available.’
They also acknowledged that the sentiments ‘should have been challenged at the time.’
Reps for Miriam Margolyes have been contacted for comment.
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