'Harry Potter' actress Miriam Margolyes, 82, poses nude for 'British Vogue.' Experts praise the 'proud' display of her 'sexy self.'
Miriam Margolyes is joining the ranks of elder women baring it all, as the 82-year-old appears nude in British Vogue.
The British actor known best for her role as Pomona Sprout in the Harry Potter films held nothing back when it came to her interview with the publication where she discussed her body and sexuality. She was also photographed wearing nothing but a pearl necklace while scones scantily covered her breasts.
While the bold image has made headlines, Margolyes wasn't shy to admit that it wasn't an exclamation of self-love, but rather of acceptance.
"I think my face is kind and warm and open and smiley. But I hate my body," she told British Vogue. "I hate big tits [and I have] a drooping belly, little twisted legs. I’m not thrilled with that. But you just make the best of it. You have to. You do the best you can."
That attitude is a big part of her appeal and her popularity, according to Joan Price, author of Naked at Our Age: Talking Out Loud about Senior Sex.
"I love that Miriam Margolyes is unabashedly herself. She accepts and celebrates who she is and proudly displays her sexy self to the public," Price tells Yahoo Life, praising Margolyes as an "authentic role model" that society needs more of. "[She's] feisty, sexy, self-accepting, loud and proud."
It's a reputation that the actress has had for some time, since coming out as gay in 1966. "I never had any shame about being gay or anything really," Margolyes told the magazine, despite the illegality and taboo surrounding homosexuality at the time.
"It’s a strong position if you’re not afraid to be who you are,” she continued. “We’re all so insecure. People are frightened such a lot of the time and what I’ve always tried to do is to make people feel more relaxed, make people feel good about themselves, and just try and lessen the torture for people a bit."
Price says that the nature of this magazine feature does just that.
"At 79, I rarely see bold role models close to my age. Instead we’re bombarded by anti-aging messages: erase wrinkles, lose weight, don’t make fashion or hairstyling faux-pas at your age, and above all, don’t admit that you’re still a sexual being," Price says.
For Margolyes to defy those expectations — or rather limitations — in a magazine like British Vogue is important for the perception of women as they age. Holly Thomas, assistant professor of medicine at the University of Pittsburgh and clinical researcher of women's sexuality and age, spoke to that importance when Martha Stewart appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit at 81.
"There are a lot of women who, as they get older, feel more comfortable in their body, more self-assured," Thomas told Yahoo Life. "Hopefully something like this may help sort of normalize that — that many older women still do feel sexy, want to feel sexy and are interested in presenting themselves that way."
She's hopeful that it might also provide some assurance that physical appearance isn't a paramount concern throughout a woman's life. "Their physical appearance becomes a less important component of their self perception and who they are," Thomas added. "I can be judged on things besides just my physical appearance. I can be judged on the intelligence I've gained, the wisdom I've gained, things I've done in my career, roles I've played as being a mother or a grandmother, these types of things."
Price looks forward to seeing more follow Margolyes's lead.
"What a world it would be if we had more role models like Miriam Margolyes, who inspire us to embrace our aging selves unapologetically, with zest and sensuality," she says.
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