Miriam Margolyes reveals she was only paid £60k to play Professor Sprout in Harry Potter films

Miriam Margolyes reveals she was only paid £60,000 to play Professor Sprout in Harry Potter films

They’re one of the highest-grossing film franchises in history, but Miriam Margolyes has revealed she only received £60,000 for her part in the beloved Harry Potter series.

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The 81-year-old actress played Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released in 2002 and 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.

Miriam Margolyes has revealed she only received £60,000 for her part in the beloved Harry Potter series (pictured in 2020). She admitted that at the time she hadn’t been impressed by the paycheck, but that she has benefitted from the role since.

Miriam said: ‘I never made Harry Potter millions. I think the three or four main people did and they deserve it but my character didn’t. ‘I was only in two and I only got £60,000 for being Professor Sprout but I’m not grumbling… now.

‘I grumbled then but it made me very famous.’

The 81-year-old actress played Professor Sprout (pictured) in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets released in 2002 and 2011’s Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2

Last year, Miriam opened up on her most popular role in a piece for the Daily Mail, saying: ‘It made a great difference to my career, making me more famous than I ever thought possible.

‘Fans follow me in the street; people ask to have their photographs taken — selfies, as they call them — standing next to Professor Sprout.’

‘Even now, I have to get photographs printed to sign and send out to my Harry Potter devotees but, if I’m honest, which I must be, I fell asleep during the premieres of both films.’

She went on to confess that despite her popularity among Harry Potter fans, she is not a big fan herself and admitted that at the time she hadn’t been impressed by the paycheck, but that she has benefitted from the role since

She wrote: ‘Whenever I glimpse scenes on television, I’m never absolutely sure what’s happening — even in the ones I’m actually in! For that reason, I can honestly say that I’ve never seen a single Harry Potter film and I’ve still never read the books.

‘When I was first interviewed for the part, I confessed I didn’t know much about the series but if they wanted someone who could act as a teacher, there was no question that I could play the part.

‘”I give good teacher,” I told them. They gave me a page of script to read; I didn’t think that it was terribly distinguished writing. In some ways it was rather banal, actually, but I read it and that was that.’

It comes after Miriam paid tribute to her co-star Robbie Coltrane following his tragic death from multiple organ failure aged 72.

Speaking on BBC’s Radio 4, she described the late actor, who played Rubeus Hagrid, as ‘exceptional’ and ‘irreplaceable’.

Miriam said: ‘He was a very fine actor and a delightful man. He was huge in stature and personality and also in heart.

‘I just feel furious that he has died, [it’s] such a waste. He was exceptional and I am really sad.’

She added: ‘He’s absolutely a unique figure and powerful and towering over Scotland. I really loved him and I’m so sad about it [his death].’ It comes after Miriam paid tribute to her co-star Robbie Coltrane following his tragic death from multiple organ failure aged 72.