Harry Potter legend Miriam Margolyes, who played Pamona Sprout in the famous franchise, has revealed she’s had heart surgery, telling fans she’s got a ‘cow’s heart now’
Harry Potter star, Miriam Margolyes, has revealed she’s undergone major heart surgery.
The much-loved actress, 82, who played Pamona Sprout in the famous franchise, told fans she’d had a procedure called a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR). Opening up about her health on the Table Manners podcast with Jessie and Lennie Ware, Miriam said she has a “cow’s heart now”, as she explained more about the intricate operation.
Describing the procedure with her typical candour, she said: ‘I’ve got a cow’s heart now. Well, not the whole heart. I’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve.”
When singer Jessie asked if that was quite a common thing, Miriam joked: “I think it’s rather refined, actually!” She continued: “I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”
Harry Potter star, Miriam Margolyes, has revealed she’s undergone major heart surgery ( Image: Facebook)
She told fans she’s got a ‘cow’s heart now’ (Image: Dave Hogan)
Miriam went on to explain the highly-skilled technique doctors used to perform the operation. She revealed: “They made two little holes in your groin. One in each groin and then they shoved this thing through. And I don’t know how they pull it up but they sort of pull it up with stereos. And then when it comes to the point, when it’s in your heart, they pull a little string and it goes pow! And lo and behold, your artery or your aortic valve is shoved unceremoniously to the side.” Following her admission, many of Miriam’s fans flocked to social media, wishing the seasoned star a speedy recovery.
The actress, who has had starring roles in Blackadder, Babe and the Harry Potter franchise, recently said she was “going to be in a wheelchair” soon due to spine problems.
The Call The Midwife star has revealed she suffers from several health issues, including spinal stenosis and osteoporosis, and as the conditions worsen she will have to accept that her mobility will be limited and she’ll have to rely on a wheelchair to get around.
The much-loved actress, 82, played Pamona Sprout the famous franchise (Image: Warner Bros)
Speaking at an industry event for FANE last month, she said: “Soon I’m going to be in a wheelchair because I’ve got spinal stenosis. I’ve got all kinds of things wrong with me, and I’m going to need a carer, and carers are expensive.
“So that’s why I’m trying to make as much money now as I possibly can. I’m still working. I’m often in pain. I have a leaky bladder. I’ve got asthma, I’ve got osteoporosis. But I’m still here and you just have to do the best you can.”
Miriam is certainly busy with a new autobiography out and a voice role as alien Meep The Beep in Doctor Who. Speaking about her delight at finally landing a role in the iconic sci-fi series, in which she will make her first appearance in the 60th anniversary specials, she said: “I’m relieved I got to work on ‘Doctor Who’ before I died. With sci-fi you never know. Thank you for making an old woman very happy.”
