British character actress Miriam Margolyes was born on 18 May 1941, in Oxford, England. The short, grey-haired, heavy-set actress is one of Britain's most sought after supporting players, and has appeared in a number of successful feature films.

Ms. Margolyes' first major role in a film was as character called Elephant Ethel. She has since become a familiar face in the world of film and television.

Margolyes received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Flora Finching in the 1988 movie, Little Dorrit. In 1993, she won a Best Supporting Actress, BAFTA for her role as Mrs Mingott, the only comic relief in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence, a performance which jump started her career.

Margolyes was recently seen alongside Geoffrey Rush and Charlize Theron in The Life and Death of Peter Sellars and will next appear with Annette Bening, Jeremy Irons and Michael Gambon in Being Julia (as Dolly de Vries), Margolyes will also play Dorcas in Ladies in Lavender with Dames Judi Dench and Maggie Smith, and will be a regular cast member in Miss Marple, a new series which will be shown in the UK in 2004, and will feature Geraldine McEwan in the title role.

Select Filmography:

• The Awakening - Dr. Kadira
• Little Dorrit (1988) - Flora
• The Age of Innocence (1993)
• Dead Again
• Cold Comfort Farm (1996) - Mrs Beetle
• Babe and Babe: Pig in the City - the voice of Fly the Sheepdog
• James and the Giant Peach - Aunt Sponge, and the voice of the Glowworm
• William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1996) - The Nurse
• Vanity Fair - Miss Crawley
• Magnolia - Faye Barringer
• Cats & Dogs (2001) - Sophie
• Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002) - Professor Sprout
• The Life and Death of Peter Sellers - Peg Sellers

Television:

• The Black Adder - Infanta Maria Escalosa of Spain
• Blackadder II - Lady Whiteadder
• Blackadder's Christmas Carol - Queen Victoria