Rowling and Margolyes both paid tribute to Coltrane after his death (Picture: Rex/PA/Getty)
Miriam Margolyes has said that she agrees with the stance the late Robbie Coltrane previously took on JK Rowling, saying that she will not put the Harry Potter author ‘to one side’.
Over the past few years, Rowling has become embroiled in controversies after being accused of transphobia, with the author previously denying that she is transphobic.
In 2020, the writer received backlash after criticising an article that referred to ‘people who menstruate’, responding to it at the time by stating: ‘I’m sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?’
In September that year, Coltrane – who played Rubeus Hagrid in the Harry Potter film franchise – came to Rowling’s defence, saying that in his opinion, he didn’t believe that what she said regarding the article in question was ‘offensive’.
Today, Margolyes – who played Professor Sprout in the movies – appeared on BBC Radio 4, where she spoke of her immense sadness over Coltrane’s death at the age of 72, as well as swearing live on air over the new Chancellor Jeremy Hunt.
Tributes have flooded in for Coltrane, who played the beloved Rubeus Hagrid (Picture: Warner Bros)
Co-host Justin Webb then brought up Coltrane’s defence of Rowling, saying that he ‘stood by’ her ‘when she started to get it in the neck from some trans activists’.
‘He stuck with her, and very forcibly so,’ Webb said, as Margolyes replied: ‘Good for him. Good for him.’
She continued: ‘It’s a difficult area, and as a gay woman, I don’t know what to say about it. I just want everybody to do what they want.’
Webb then pressed further on the subject, saying that when it comes to Rowling, ‘everyone who was involved in the Harry Potter franchise has had to make a decision, haven’t they? Do we say, “Look, she’s a wonderful woman, it’s an extraordinary thing,” or do they cut her out and just put it to one side?’
Coltrane previously came to Rowling’s defence (Picture: Getty)
After hearing about Coltrane’s views, Margolyes responded: ‘I’m with him. I would absolutely not put her to one side. I think that’s just silly. Let’s talk it through.’
Several stars of the Harry Potter film franchise, including Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint, have expressed their support for the trans community in light of Rowling’s remarks.
Margolyes then changed the subject of the radio interview to focus back on Coltrane, saying that he was ‘irreplaceable’ and a ‘unique figure’.
‘I really love him and I’m so sad about it. Just sad,’ she stated.
Margolyes’ Harry Potter character Professor Sprout was in charge of Herbology (Picture: Warner Bros)
Margolyes also remembered Coltrane as a ‘very fine actor’ and a ‘delightful man’.
‘Huge in stature, in personality, in heart. He was exceptional. And I’m really sad. I didn’t know he was ill. He just put on too much weight stupid boy,’ she said on the radio.
Crediting Coltrane for the way he ‘acted with passion’, Margolyes said that her late co-star ‘had a heart of gold’ and was ‘kind’, ‘sweet’ and ‘affectionate’.
‘Acting for him was a means of expression and he cared about it. He wanted to be good. He wanted to be thought of as being good. And I think he achieved greatness in his roles. I just feel furious that he’s died. Such a waste.’
In April this year, Margolyes defended the Harry Potter author from criticism regarding her comments about the trans community, saying that she thought the ‘vituperation that JK Rowling has received is misplaced’.
The 81-year-old also said at the time that in her opinion, ‘there isn’t one answer to all these trans questions’.
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She also paid tribute to her late Harry Potter co-star Robbie Coltrane.