'It's an indulgence!' Miriam Margolyes, 80, says she 'regrets' coming out as gay to her parents because she believes the stress caused her mother's stroke
Miriam Margolyes has spoken of her regret over coming out as gay to her parents as she admits she thinks the stress of the news caused her mother's stroke.
The comedian, 80, spoke of how she feels remorseful over the decision and claimed that she believes coming out is an 'indulgence'.
During her appearance on Tuesday's Loose Women, Miriam also noted how acting legend Sir Ian McKellan 'strongly disagrees' with her views.
Candid: Miriam Margolyes has spoken of her regret over coming out as gay to her parents as she admits she thinks the stress of the news caused her mother's stroke
She said: 'Coming out is an indulgence. If you tell people who can't bear the information, you're hurting them and it's not kind.
'Ian McKellen, my dear friend, disagrees with me on that, but I don't care. That's what I think, don't tell people who can't bear it.'
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Miriam admitted she now wishes she had not told her parents about her sexuality, but explained she was raised to 'tell them everything'.
She said: 'They brought me up to tell them everything. I was someone who was completely open with my family. It was natural that I would tell them.
Bold claims: The comedian, 80, spoke of how she feels remorseful over the decision and claimed that she believes coming out is an 'indulgence'
'Now I wish I hadn't, I think it upset my mother terribly. I think she had a stroke, possibly, as a result.'
Miriam has been in a relationship with her partner Heather Sutherland for 53 years, however she recently revealed that they only see each other eight times a year.
Miriam was on the lunchtime television programme discussing her new memoir This Much is True, which includes tales of her relationship, the Royals and why she loves getting a 'buzz' from shocking people with her tales.
Agree to disagree: During her appearance on Tuesday's Loose Women, Miriam also noted how acting legend Sir Ian McKellan 'strongly disagrees' with her views
During another TV appearance earlier this year, Miriam dropped the bombshell on This Morning that she has created multiple 'sex tapes'.
Speaking from the comfort of her Italian villa, the actress assured presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that they were just audio recordings with no accompanying visuals.
She admitted that she was left 'exhausted' after having to simulate orgasms, as she added the shocking interview to her long list of outrageous TV moments, earning her the show's 'favourite guest' top spot.
'It was very tiring and exhausting': Miriam dropped the bombshell on This Morning that she has created multiple 'sex tapes' earlier this year
While discussing a previous job in an advert, Phillip, 58, pressed Miriam: 'Didn't you possibly get that job out of a couple of other tapes that you might have that were, um…slightly less family-orientated?'
'I thought I was supposed to be very careful this morning on this show,' the Call The Midwife actress quipped before Holly, 40, added: 'He's poking you with a big stick, let me tell you that.'
She responded: 'Your chap told me, 'now don't say anything nasty,'' before an amused Phillip said: 'Don't say anything nasty but you're always naughty and we love that.'
'Well, I did a couple of sex tapes, Sexy Sonja: Leaves from my Schoolgirl Diary. That was one of them' she laughed as the This Morning presenters struggled to maintain composure.
Shock! Speaking from the comfort of her Italian villa, the actress assured presenters Phillip Schofield and Holly Willoughby that they were just audio recordings with no accompanying visuals
Miriam continued: 'But I have to stress they were audiotapes, they were not visual.
'And they're very exhausting because when you're simulating orgasm as all of you out there will know.
'It's tiring and you get a headache, it's not a question of having a headache at the beginning, you get a headache at the end.'
Phillip and Holly were left in hysterics. She recalled they were for Ann Summers, the high street retailer known for selling sex toys and X-rated products.
In a previous appearance on the daytime show, the actress said she could see Holly 'crackling' from nerves.
Tell-all: She admitted that she was 'exhausted' after having to simulate an orgasm, as she added the shocking interview to her long list of outrageous TV moments
No holding back: 'Well, I did a couple of sex tapes, Sexy Sonja: Leaves from my Schoolgirl Diary. That was one of them' she laughed as the This Morning presenters struggled to maintain composure
