British acting legend Miriam Margolyes has made a heartbreaking admission: she believes she only has a few years left to live following a major heart procedure.

The 83-year-old, beloved for her iconic role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, underwent life-saving surgery in 2023 to replace a failing aortic valve — not with a mechanical device, but with one made from a pig’s heart valve, a less invasive alternative to full open-heart surgery.

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In a new interview with The Times, Miriam said frankly: “When you know that you haven’t got long to live – and I’m probably going to die within the next five or six years, if not before – I’m loath to leave behind performing. It’s such a joy.”

The veteran actress, who also suffers from spinal stenosis, arthritis, and rheumatism, now relies on walking sticks and a mobility scooter, but remains determined to keep working as long as her health allows.

She admitted that roles that keep her out of wheelchairs are becoming harder to find, but the stage remains her source of happiness. “I love connecting with an audience,” she shared, “but I know I may never return to the Edinburgh Fringe again.”

On the Table Manners podcast, she revealed another surprise: “I’ve got a cow’s heart now — well, just the valve. I didn’t even know that operation existed.”

Despite her physical pain, Miriam still works — not just out of passion, but out of financial necessity, saying she wants to be able to pay for future carers properly. “One day I will need them. I want to be comfortable, and I want them to be properly paid.”

Her honesty has touched fans around the world, reinforcing why Margolyes remains one of Britain’s most treasured — and unfiltered — voices in entertainment.