Fans have expressed support for Miriam Margolyes after the actress shared news of the death of a close friend. Margolyes, 84, who was born and raised in Oxford, is widely known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, as well as for a long career across film, television and theatre. She received a BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actress for The Age of Innocence in 1993 and was appointed an OBE in 2002 for services to drama.
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Margolyes revealed that she had only recently learned of the death of her friend Jenyth Worsley, an Oxford resident who passed away peacefully in March 2023 at the age of 91. Writing on social media, Margolyes explained that she discovered the news after noticing Worsley’s name appear on a birthday reminder. She described Worsley as a relative of the late Princess Diana whose own passions were literary, musical and artistic.
Paying tribute, Margolyes recalled that the two had known each other from her BBC Radio days. Worsley had been a producer on Listen With Mother before going on to work in schools broadcasting. Margolyes described her friend as shy, serious and deeply special, expressing regret that they had lost touch after Worsley moved back to Oxford. She also noted Worsley’s strong Christian faith and her reflective nature.
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Following the post, fans offered messages of sympathy and understanding, many sharing similar experiences of learning about a loss long after it occurred. Margolyes responded briefly, acknowledging the sadness of the discovery and the shock it brought, as she reflected publicly on the quiet impact her friend had on her life.
