Miriam Margolyes opens up about her fears of running out of money in retirement

For many retirees, having sufficient funds for retirement and unexpected expenses is a major concern, and it seems that even renowned actress and comedian Miriam Margolyes is not immune from such concerns.

In a recent interview with Radio Times, the 83-year-old Harry Potter star expressed her worries about financial security in her later years, due to the need for specialist care following her spinal stenosis diagnosis.

“I’m worried that I won’t have enough money for carers when I finally get paralysed or whatever it is that’s going to happen to me,” she said.

“I’m saving up cash so that I can pay people to look after me and my partner. We don’t have children, so I need to make sure I’m going to be looked after in the way that I’ve become accustomed.”

Later in the interview, Margolyes opened up about her thoughts on death and what she believes is waiting for her in the afterlife.

“I’m always quoting William Saroyan, who says: ‘I know that everyone has to die, but I thought an exception might be made in my case.’ I know now that is definitely not true,” she shared.

“What do I think happens after death? My therapist used to say there may be a party. I honestly don’t think there’s anything, I think you just stop, but it would be nice if there’s a party.”

Margolyes recently offered a candid revelation about her spinal stenosis diagnosis in a chat on the How To Fail podcast, revealing that she fears she may soon be “in a wheelchair”.

Margolyes revealed that her weight had caused her to develop the condition, which impaired her ability to walk. Never one to mince words, Margolyes blamed only herself for her health issues.

“The one thing I have not conquered and should have conquered is my weight. I am a blubber mass. I am fat. And to be fat and 82 is truly pathetic,” Margolyes said.

“It’s such a defeat. A cream bun, a chocolate, a helping of chopped liver is more important than your health and aesthetic presentation?

“No it isn’t more important, it’s just greed, lack of discipline, all the things I’m embarrassed by in myself.

“It is a major failure and because of that I’ve got spinal stenosis, I can’t walk, I’m going to be in a wheelchair before I’m much older.

“I’ve limited my life because of my longing for fudge or chopped liver, cheesecake. All these absurdities, I shouldn’t have been so greedy, have been stronger. I f**k everything up by greed and I think it’s shameful.”