Actress Miriam Margolyes shared her opinion that adult fans of Harry Potter need to grow up and find other interests.
Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Warner Bros. Pictures
Margolyes, who played Professor Sprout in the film series, originally shared her thoughts during an appearance on New Zealand’s 1News telling the outlet, “I worry about Harry Potter fans because they should be over that by now. You know, it was 25 years ago, and it’s for children. I think it’s for children.”
“But they get stuck in it,” she continued. “And I do cameos, and people say, ‘Oh, we’re having a Harry Potter-themed wedding.’ And I think, ‘Gosh, what’s their first night of fun going to be?’ I can’t even think about it.”
“No, Harry Potter is wonderful. I’m very grateful to it. It’s over. That’s what I think,” she concluded.
She clarified her thoughts in an interview with Australia’s ABC News. When asked about her previous thoughts, Margolyes said, “I’m not unhappy about it. I just think that it’s for children! And if your balls have dropped then it’s time to forget about it! You know, go on to other things.”
Margolyes then added, “No, seriously! It’s a great series. It’s a wonderful set of films. I’m proud I was in it, but it was 25 years ago! You know, grow up!”
She then advised viewers to read Charles Dickens, “Read Dickens. I do Dickens in my show and I do it very well.”
Miriam Margolyes as Professor Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), Warner Bros. Pictures
The idea that the Harry Potter books and films are only meant for children is simply untrue. The Lord of the Rings author J.R.R. Tolkien discussed this very topic in his essay On Fairy Stories. While Harry Potter is not specifically a fairy story, his discussion on the genre being relegated simply to children can be applied to Harry Potter.
Tolkien detailed, “Among those who still have enough wisdom not to think fairy-stories pernicious, the common opinion seems to be that there is a natural connexion between the minds of children and fairy-stories, of the same order as the connexion between children’s bodies and milk. I think this is an error; at best an error of false sentiment, and one that is therefore most often made by those who, for whatever private reason (such as childlessness), tend to think of children as a special kind of creature, almost a different race, rather than as normal, if immature, members of a particular family, and of the human family at large.”
He explained, “Actually, the association of children and fairy-stories is an accident of our domestic history. Fairy-stories have in the modern lettered world been relegated to the “nursery,” as shabby or old-fashioned furniture is relegated to the play-room, primarily because the adults do not want it, and do not mind if it is misused. It is not the choice of the children which decides this. Children as a class—except in a common lack of experience they are not one—neither like fairy-stories more, nor understand them better than adults do; and no more than they like many other things. They are young and growing, and normally have keen appetites, so the fairy-stories as a rule go down well enough. But in fact only some children, and some adults, have any special taste for them; and when they have it, it is not exclusive, nor even necessarily dominant. It is a taste, too, that would not appear, I think, very early in childhood without artificial stimulus; it is certainly one that does not decrease but increases with age, if it is innate.”
J.R.R. Tolkien via Sidh Aniron YouTube
READ: Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav Reveals Harry Potter TV Series To Arrive On Max In 2026
As for Harry Potter being over, it does not appear J.K. Rowling is writing any more novels in the series, and the original film adaptations concluded with Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part II back in 2011.
However, the Fantastic Beasts spin-off franchise just had its last film installment hit theaters with Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore just two years ago in April 2022. Warner Bros. Discovery is also adapting the original novels into a decade-long TV series.
The announcement of the series was announced just last year. The series is expected to arrive on Max in 2026.
Your Hogwarts letter is here.
Max has ordered the first ever #HarryPotter scripted television series, a faithful adaptation of the iconic books. #StreamOnMax pic.twitter.com/3CgEHLYhch
— Max (@StreamOnMax) April 12, 2023
What do you make of Margolyes’ comments regarding Harry Potter?
She’s right. There’s nothing more pathetic than adults dressing in Potter cosplay, outside of conventions.
Adults who base large parts of their life on Harry Potter need to grow up and wake up from their childish fantasies. They’re NOT wizards, will never BE wizards and are simply clinging to Potter nonsense as a security blanket to avoid the realities of being a productive adult in society.