Miriam Margolyes has revealed the secret to her long-term relationship with partner Heather Sutherland is “never compromising”.
The Harry Potter star, 82, is one of three cover stars for British Vogue‘s Pride month series and opened up about life with Sutherland, who she has been with for 54 years, in an accompanying interview.
The pair met while working on a BBC radio drama in 1967 after Margolyes had graduated from studying at the University of Cambridge.
Notably she and Sutherland have never co-habited in all their years together, with the retired Australian academic living in Amsterdam.
Discussing the secret to their five-decade long relationship, the British actor admitted they have never compromised on their goals in a bid to stay together.
Margolyes told the outlet: “We were able to lead our lives without diminishing them. I didn’t want her to have to give up anything. And I didn’t want to give up anything.
“I wanted my cake and I wanted to eat it too. And so far, it’s worked.”
The screen star revealed that they have a civil partnership and explained that it’s more to do with legal protection.
The Ends of Days star added that she counts herself “lucky” that she can have a less conventional relationship compared to most in long-term partnerships.
She claimed: “Gay people have the luck to be able to fashion the relationship they want. It’s much more flexible for us.
“I think we have more freedom than [straight people] do. Particularly gay boys, they’re always f***ing everything. It’s amazing. I don’t know how they get away with it.”
Adding: “I think gay people are very lucky, because we are not conventional, we are a group slightly apart. It gives us an edge. We’re good artists, we’re good musicians.”
The award-winning actress, known for her foul mouth and lovable eccentricity, concluded that gay people are “not conventional” and she “wouldn’t want to be straight for anything”.
The Blackadder star features along with other “LGBTQ+ pioneers”, including Ncuti Gatwa, Janelle Monáe, Rina Sawayama, Bella Ramsey and Emma D’Arcy, in the July edition of British Vogue.
