Harry Potter actress Miriam Margoyles in race row for 'Jews and blacks discount' remark

Veteran actress: Miriam Margolyes attends the Pride Of Britain awards in October 2016.
Getty Images
Francesca Gillett3 December 2016

An actress who has starred in the Harry Potter films sparked a race row after comments made at a London autograph signing.

Miriam Margoyles has been accused of making a racist joke which left a black man reportedly “humiliated” at the London Film Convention.

The 75-year-old – who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter series - was charging £5 for autographs when she allegedly said: “Jews and blacks, they get a discount”.

Footage obtained by the Sun newspaper shows the veteran actress making the comments.

The woman who filmed the video told the newspaper: “'There were lots of us stood around taking photos but he was the only man who was black.

"She singled him out absolutely. Then she made that quip about jews and blacks and everyone was just staring at the ground and looking embarrassed.

“I recognised the man she targeted from other events and he looked humiliated.'

A spokesperson for Ms Margoyles, who is Jewish herself, told the Sun: “Miriam's comments were made in jest and she would be mortified if anyone took offence. "

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