Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has issued a worrying health update, revealing she ‘struggles to walk’ after undergoing a major heart operation last year

Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes has admitted she still “struggles to walk” after undergoing a significant heart operation last year.

The 83-year-old underwent a transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) in October, which allowed her to avoid the more invasive open-heart surgery.

She has also previously discussed her battle with “spinal stenosis”, a condition where the space inside the spine is too small, which could potentially confine her to a wheelchair. Now, Miriam has revealed that she is “registered disabled” and finds walking difficult, reports the Express.

In a chat with Closer, she shared: “I can’t walk very well, and I’m registered disabled, so I use all kinds of assistance. I’ve got two sticks and a walker and they’re such a bore, but I’ve just got a mobility scooter, which is a lot of fun.”

“It’s like having a new toy. It’s very good for shopping because it’s got a basket on it – and I do enjoy whizzing around on it immensely.”

Miriam Margolyes ( Image: (Image: Getty)

During an appearance on the How To Fail show in September, she confessed: “The one thing I have not conquered and should have conquered is my weight. I am a blubber mass. I am fat. And to be fat and 82 is truly pathetic.”

In a candid chat with Radio Times, Miriam Margolyes revealed her fears about future care needs: “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.”

Miriam Margolyes has opened up about her health issues. (Image: (Image: ITV))
She further elaborated on her plans to ensure comfort and support: “I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner.”

Currently gearing up for her latest BBC Two series, ‘Miriam Margolyes: A New Australian Adventure’, which will be broadcast this Friday, the beloved actor is heading back to Australia. Having moved there initially to be with her partner Heather Sunderland, she confessed that the country felt like home straightaway.

The upcoming documentary will showcase Miriam delving into new adventures and encountering Australias vibrant personalities.

Despite health professionals advising her to take it easy, Miriam isn’t ready to slow down. Her third journey through Australia with this series allows her to tick off bucket-list destinations such as Perth, Byron Bay, and Broken Hill.

Yet, her wanderlust remains unquenched as she aspires to embark on more expeditions, particularly across Scotland, Ireland, and Wales. She muses on the excitement of local travel, stating: “The nearer home one is, I think the more surprised one should be.”