This Much is True

by Miriam Margolyes

When I see a wrong, I will confront it; I strongly believe in sticking up for what is right. Injustice offends me, deeply.

Acting for radio is no different from acting for the stage, or any other medium, really; it’s an exercise in imaginative travel. You journey from yourself into this other person that you have crafted. You are using some of the bricks of your own humanity and personality, and slowly stepping over into another persona which you are inventing, based on the text that you’re given and the backstory that you might imagine for yourself. It’s always about creating the character with truth – that’s the job, whatever medium you’re working in.

But may I say strongly that being a lesbian is not enough – it’s not all there is; it’s simply another adjective to describe a person. And when people say, ‘Oh, you must meet X, she’s a lesbian too,’ I groan with irritation. I don’t want to live in a lesbian world. I want to live in The World, with everyone else.

but please don’t shut me or anyone else in a lesbian cage. Some gay women only want to be with gay women. I don’t. I pick the people in my life because of who they are, not because of who they sleep with. Let’s open the closet and take our place in the world.

You shouldn’t fear failure. It’s not something that we relish – no one wants to fail – but it may be something we have to endure in order to improve and succeed.

Getting older is a hideous experience. I’m not someone who believes old age is a blessing – bollocks! It’s fucking awful and you get through it as best you can. I’m glad I only have to do it once.