Interview with Miriam Margolyes OBE, 74

Sharp, witty, and full of great one-liners, Harry Potter actress Miriam has already visited Jaipur, but wants to delve deeper.

Certain that there is much to learn about India and its people, Miriam, a humanitarian, is keen to fully embrace Indian life and to make Indian friends amongst ‘these glorious people’. Miriam is keen to broaden her understanding of the culture. Her biggest worry is how good the toilets will be and that her fellow travellers will be put off by her flatulence.

What did you enjoy most about India?

The people must come first; they are imaginative, fully alive and beautiful. And the women are extremely intelligent and forceful. 

What was your role within the group?

I hoped it was to be, as I often am in a group, the form wag - the class clown. I really liked my fellow travellers; I marvelled at their talents. Bobby is a remarkable man, Wayne is deeply generous and gifted, Patti is a brilliant singer - and I got to know the others, who shared their private thoughts with me. I hope to know them all my life to come.

Tell us about one of your adventures…

In one day, we visited both the slums and the palace of the royal family in Jaipur. The slums were filthy on the outside, stinking and cramped. But the LIFE there, the teeming, smiling, vivid life we saw, the puppet masters full of colour and imagination, real artists - that made it memorable and enjoyable. I admire the sense of family, the openness with each other. And then to the palace – where the dignity of the slum people was mirrored by their social superiors, all infinitely gracious – only the surroundings were different.

What can Brits learn from Indian culture?

I would hope that Brits can marvel at the range and sophistication of the various Indian cultures. It is a complex and majestic country, with many languages, great literature and in the 19th century, a shared history. I can never have enough of India. I long to return.