Getting to know... Miriam Margolyes

The outspoken actress talks about memoirs, the Harry Potter phenomenon and why she'll never watch The Crown

I do love shocking people. I get a bit of a buzz when I see people [looking shocked]. It's fun. But if you say really awful things, that can upset people, and I don't want to do that.

It is an odd feeling to know that, whatever else I do, I will go to my grave best known for playing Professor Pomona Sprout in two of the Harry Potter movies. It made a great difference to my career, making me more famous than I ever thought possible. Fans follow me in the street, people ask to have their photographs taken - selfies, as they call them - standing next to Professor Sprout.

In terms of my development as an artist, playing Professor Sprout wasn't all that important because she is well within my capabilities as an actress. But in terms of marketability, it made an enormous difference.