Harry Potter star Miriam Margoyles sparks race row after ‘humiliating’ black fan at £5-a-time autograph signing
75-year-old BAFTA winner has been accused of making racist jokes at the London Film Convention
HARRY POTTER actress Miriam Margolyes has been accused of making a "racist joke" which left a "black man feeling humiliated" at an autograph signing.
Margoyles was charging £5 for signed photographs at the London Film Convention when she told the man "Jews and blacks, they get a discount".
BAFTA winner Margoyles, who is 75 and Jewish herself, had earlier said to the man "I'm giving you a discount because you're black".
She had earlier said "can't you afford five quid?" as he took photos of her.
The veteran actress, who played Professor Sprout in the Harry Potter films, can be seen making the remarks in footage obtained exclusively by The Sun Online.
The woman who filmed the video has asked not to be named, but said: "I think she was being racist yeah.
"I showed the video to my family and they all agreed it was too."
Margoyles' website states that she donates money to charities including "Jewish Care" and "Street Child Africa", but the woman who filmed her cracking the "joke" has said she seems "detached from modern times".
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She added: "There were lots of us stood around taking photos but he was the only man who was black.
"She singled him out absolutely.
"The man was taking photos like lots of us were, I was filming.
"She was being a loose canon and a big character shouting all sorts of stuff out.
"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."
The woman added that the man then walked up and bought a £5 photograph despite the fact he might not have planned to before.
A spokesperson for the Harry Potter actress, said: "Miriam's comments were made in jest and she would be mortified if anyone took offence. "
Margoyles' comments earlier this month are not the first time her language about black people has caused controversy.
In 2012 she told pop star Will.i.am: "I'm just fascinated by you. Unfortunately I don't know many black people."
Margoyles, who has an OBE, attended the London Film Convention on November 12.
Other stars at the event in Central Hall, Westminster, include the voice of Darth Vader David Prowse and actor Bernard Cribbins.
The lady who filmed the footage regularly attends film and memorabilia events, and says her encounter with Margoyles has lowered her opinion of the star.
She said: "To me I just people, I don't see black and white, I just see people.
"I think she's detached from modern times I really do."
Margoyles has been an actress since 1965 and won a BAFTA for her role as Mrs Mingott in Martin Scorsese's The Age of Innocence in 1993.
She more recently featured as Professor Pomona Sprout in Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two.
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