Miriam Margolyes shocks TV presenter by asking question about his skin colour

The infamously outspoken actress was appearing as a guest on Australian panel show The Project
Tina Campbell21 March 2024
The Weekender

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Miriam Margolyes left a TV presenter stunned with a question about his skin colour.

The infamously outspoken actress, 82, was appearing as a guest on Australian panel show The Project to discuss new three-part series Impossibly Australian.

As the panel were speaking about the ongoing war in Gaza, Margolyes, who is Jewish, said she felt that a “ceasefire” needs to happen immediately.

“Ceasefire now,” she continued to a rapturous applause from the audience.

“Whether you’re Black or white, it doesn’t matter.”

Getty Images

She then turned to host Waleed Aly and asked: “What are you by the way? You’re sort of brown.”

While looking shocked, thankfully Aly took the question in good humour, while some of the audience could be heard gasping: “Oh”.

Breaking the silence, co-host Georgie Tunny exclaimed: “I didn’t see it going this way.”

After managing to regain his composure, Aly decided to answer the Harry Potter star’s question.

“This is a really interesting question actually,” he laughed.

“I’ve thought about this a lot. I’m not joking about that … I’m Egyptian.”

“Oh really,” Margolyes replied.

“Which is in Africa. So, what do you want to call that?” he asked.

“Well, lucky I think,” responded Margolyes.

“Because I like the Egyptian people. I’m on the side of the Palestinians. I have to tell you that now. Being Jewish, we always have to say what we are. Are we for Israel or are we against Israel. I’m only for humanity. Ceasefire,” to which both the panel and audience clapped.

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