Harry Potter star, Miriam Margolyes, opens up on major heart surgery

Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has revealed her latest health battle after she had undergone major heart surgery.

Miriam Margolyes at a Tasmanian beach for her new documentary series Miriam Margolyes: Australia Unmasked.

Harry Potter star Miriam Margolyes has revealed she has undergone heart surgery.

Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the beloved series, has said she underwent a procedure called transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).

The beloved British-Australian star opened up about her health issues during an appearance on a podcast in the UK.

Barry Humphries, Rula Lenska and Miriam Margolyes. Picture: Hampstead Theatre

“I’ve got a cow’s heart now. Well, not the whole heart. I’ve had an aortic valve replaced by a cow’s aortic valve.”

When asked if that was quite a common thing, Margolyes said: “I think it’s rather refined, actually!”

“I don’t know how common it is. I’d never heard of that operation. But it saves you from having open heart surgery, which would be infinitely more invasive.”

Miriam Margolyes has revealed she has undergone heart surgery. Picture: Supplied

Margolyes went on to explain the incredible technique doctors used to perform the operation.

She revealed: “They made two little holes in your groin. One in each groin and then they shoved this thing through.

“And I don’t know how they pull it up but they sort of pull it up with stereos. And then when it comes to the point, when it’s in your heart, they pull a little string and it goes pow!

“And lo and behold, your artery or your aortic valve is shoved unceremoniously to the side.”

Margolyes sparked concern back in May when she was rushed to hospital with a chest infection.

She updated fans on social media with a snap of her on the ward.

Miriam Margolyes with Maggie Smith and Richard Harris in the Harry Potter series. Picture: Supplied

Sharing a photo of her in a hospital gown from her bed, she said: “Thanks to my precious friends who thought of me on Tavi Day. I did survive and I am still in The Royal Brompton Hospital certainly till Sunday.

“I am growing energy but it’s still not quite me.”

The hilarious star later told Vogue that she may have to go under the knife, following the “unexpected” health issue.

She revealed: ‘When you’re young, you never think about death. You just think about your next f*** basically. I think about death a lot.”

– with the Sun

Originally published as Harry Potter star, Miriam Margolyes, opens up on major heart surgery