Miriam Margolyes to receive award despite calls to strip OBE

The actress, who was born and grew up in the city, is well known to audiences around the world after starring as Professor Sprout in several of the Harry Potter films.

Known for her character actor work across film, television, and stage, she received the BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese’s 1993 film, The Age of Innocence.

Ms Margolyes was awarded an OBE in 2002 for services to drama, but there were calls for this to be taken back last year.

READ MORE: Mick Jagger shocks Oxford University students with surprise pub gig

The 85-year-old, who is Jewish, had spoken to The Big Issue about Israel’s military campaign in Gaza.

She said that it reminded her of the Holocaust and added: “The terrible thing I face is that Hitler won. He changed us, made us like him.”

The Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) has responded to Ms Margolyes’ remarks and labelled them as “repugnant”.

Previously responding to the uproar in comments reported by Edinburgh Live, Ms Margolyes said: “I’m not antisemitic, I’m anti-killing children,” she said, as reported by Edinburgh Live.

“I am criticising the Israeli government. But I am also criticising the Jewish people in the UK, the community that I belong to, which is not coming out in support of me.

READ MORE: Mary Berry, 91, reveals marriage rules after 60 years with husband

“I just want people not to kill each other.”

Now, Ms Margolyes is set to be honoured with this year’s Raindance Icon Award at the Raindance Film Festival, which runs in London from June 17 to 26.

The veteran actor will be presented with the prize at the festival’s opening gala on June 17, following the UK premiere of Michel Parandi’s “April X.”

Ms Margolyes recently appeared in Lee Knight’s short “A Friend of Dorothy,” which first screened at Raindance around a year ago before enjoying a strong festival run that led to an Academy Award nomination for best live-action short.

Mr Knight, who directed the film, will present the new Icon Award in what organisers have dubbed a “full circle moment.”

READ MORE: Harry Potter star Emma Watson leaves Oxford University for Italy

In “A Friend of Dorothy,” Margolyes plays a widow whose quiet routine is disrupted when a teenager, played by Alistair Nwachukwu, accidentally sends his football into her garden, with the pair forming an unexpected friendship built on shared loneliness.

Speaking to Variety about the Raindance honour, the ever-frank Margolyes said: “I didn’t quite believe it!”

“Everybody likes awards, but in my secret heart, I think awards are not good for people because they become smug.

“I don’t want to become smug. And there are so many brilliant performers, and everybody sometimes deserves an award. So it’s my turn! I am going to accept it gratefully and hopefully gracefully.”