Miriam Margolyes Addresses JK Rowling's Controversial Trans Views

August 5, 2025
Miriam Margolyes Addresses JK Rowling's Controversial Trans Views

In a recent interview with Sky News, Miriam Margolyes, best known for her role as Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter film series, publicly articulated her views regarding J.K. Rowling's contentious stance on transgender issues. Margolyes acknowledged that while she believes Rowling is 'wrong about some things,' she also criticized the treatment of the author by the public and media, stating that the backlash has become 'unkind' and disproportionate.

Margolyes, who identifies as a gay woman, emphasized the importance of kindness and inclusivity in discussions surrounding trans rights. She remarked, 'I think everybody can be criticised, I think that's fair enough, but everybody's so horrid and nasty and unkind, and I don't like that.' This statement reflects a growing concern among public figures about the increasingly polarized nature of discourse regarding gender identity.

The actress's comments come in the wake of Rowling's exclusion from a 25th-anniversary reunion special for the Harry Potter franchise, where prominent stars such as Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint voiced their support for the trans community. Margolyes expressed her discomfort with Rowling's absence from celebrations of her own work, arguing, 'I think it was wrong that she wasn't invited to the celebrations for Harry Potter. You know, she created the whole thing.'

Rowling has faced considerable backlash for her gender-critical views, which many activists and members of the LGBTQ+ community have characterized as harmful. In contrast, Margolyes urges for a more compassionate dialogue, stating, 'Let's be kind, let's be inclusive. I think there's an awful lot of nonsense talked about it.'

Margolyes, who has not personally met Rowling, acknowledged the author’s literary contributions, particularly her crime novels written under the pseudonym Robert Galbraith. She stated, 'I salute her as a very great writer and I think I like the detective stories best.'

The interview also touched upon Margolyes’s views on artificial intelligence (AI), which she described as 'a very bad thing' that facilitates theft and dishonesty in creative industries. Her staunch opposition to AI reflects broader concerns within the arts community regarding the implications of technology on creativity and intellectual property.

As the patron of the Charles Dickens Museum, Margolyes highlighted the importance of literary heritage and the need to celebrate authors who have significantly impacted culture and society. 'A life was lived here,' she said of Dickens’s former residence, emphasizing the importance of preserving literary history.

The discussion surrounding J.K. Rowling and trans rights continues to evoke strong reactions from both supporters and detractors. As public figures like Margolyes advocate for a more nuanced conversation, the implications of these discussions extend beyond individual opinions, influencing broader societal attitudes towards transgender individuals and their rights.

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