Oh Miriam!

Oh Miriam! by the incomparable Miriam Margolyes is a rollicking, no-holds-barred memoir that dives deep into the life of one of Britain's most beloved and eccentric actresses. With a career spanning over six decades, Margolyes has become a household name known for her versatility, wicked sense of humour, and unfiltered candour. In this captivating and often outrageous memoir, she regales readers with tales from both her extraordinary professional journey and personal escapades.

From her audacious declaration of love to Vanessa Redgrave to the bizarre experience of being fed cockroaches by none other than Steve Buscemi, Margolyes pulls back the curtain on the highs and lows of her life in the spotlight. She shares hilarious anecdotes from her time on the set of the iconic British series Blackadder, where she transformed a mundane turnip into a comedic goldmine, to her unforgettable encounters with Hollywood royalty, such as being farted on by Arnold Schwarzenegger.

With her inimitable wit and wisdom, Margolyes discusses love, laughter, and everything in between. Chapters like 'How to Stay Married' and 'Don't Let the Bastards Get You Down' offer readers her unique perspective on navigating life's challenges. She reveals how to shatter the thickest conversational ice, extolls the virtues of swearing (though perhaps not on the Today programme), and divulges unexpected life lessons learned during her school years. Fans will also be delighted by her imaginative insights, such as what her Spice Girl name would be and her very own Tale of the Unexpected and Vagina Monologue.

Margolyes's sharp, unfiltered voice is evident throughout the book. Reviewers have lauded Oh Miriam! for its boldness, hilarity, and touching revelations. Robert McCrum of the Independent calls it "a force of nature, a tour de farce. Bold, brave and bright, but also revealing, shocking and touching. Miriam is an icon, a cocksucker - and the star of her show." Simon Hattenstone of the Guardian describes her as "our naughtiest national treasure . . . famously filthy, funny and phlegmatic . . . Oh Miriam! is Margolyes's manifesto for a fulfilled life. She loves to tell it straight. And the older she gets, the straighter she tells it." Emma Lee-Potter from the Daily Express adds, "irrepressible... A life-enhancing rollercoaster of a ride... this book is like Margolyes herself - outspoken, ebullient and unexpectedly wise." Rhik Samadder of the Observer praises it as "snortingly funny... deliciously unbridled... There is something heroic in her unruliness. Let Miriam take the lead and enjoy the show." Suzanne Harrington of the Irish Examiner finds it "insanely interesting, full of profanity and profundity... her unfiltered personality leaps off the page - honesty, kindness, generosity, sanity, erudition, outspokenness." Women's Weekly simply calls it "endearingly eccentric."

The memoir is more than just a collection of stories; it’s Margolyes’s audacious chronicle of a life lived to the fullest. With a cast list that includes figures from Churchill to DiCaprio, Dahl to Dietrich, and Princess Margaret to Maggie Smith, readers will be captivated by the breadth of her experiences and the honesty with which she recounts them.

Buckle up and join Miriam Margolyes on an unforgettable adventure that traverses the landscape of her heart and mind. Whether she's making you laugh out loud or pause in reflection, Oh Miriam! is a memoir that promises to entertain, enlighten, and empower you to embrace life with the same bold spirit.