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In what must be one of the most varied careers in show business history, Miriam Margoyles has won a BAFTA for her role in a big-budget drama, narrated a soft-porn audiobook, and provided the voice for the Cadbury's Caramel bunny.

In recognition of her work, Miriam was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2002 New Year Honours for Services to Drama, receiving her award from the late Queen Elizabeth II in Buckingham Palace.

But alongside her numerous awards for acting, Miriam has a reputation for outspokenness that has seen her become a darling of the chat show circuit. She is reported to have been the first person - and certainly the first woman - to say the word "f***" on British TV during a University Challenge appearance back in 1963.

And, in keeping with her frank and forthright nature, Miriam believes in farting whenever she feels the need, no matter where she is, or who she is with: "We did it at home," she told Grace Dent on her Comfort Eating podcast. "Mummy farted, Daddy farted. I farted...we just did"

She added that there has only been one occasion in her long life that she has restrained herself: "When I was at Buckingham Palace, I held it in," she admitted, adding: "It's not fair. You can't put the Royals through that."

Despite a number of health issues, the 84-year old star shows little sign of slowing down.

Her most recent film, a drama called Friend of Dorothy, was nominated for an Academy Award this year and narrowly missed out on the Best Short Film Oscar.

Although Miriam has been diagnosed with a number of serious conditions, she lives an active life. In recent years, she has made TV travelogues that took in destinations such as Ireland, New Zealand and Australia.

She suffers with both spinal stenosis and osteoarthritis,- which have severely restricted her mobility. She has also explained why she opted for the insertion of a valve from a cow's heart, rather than a pig's, when she was told that she required heart surgery in 2023.

Miriam is proud of her Jewish heritage, and still maintains some of the religion's traditions, including not eating pork: "I'll eat anything, darling, except from the pig," she told Grace Dent.

"I won't have anything from the pig. When I had a new valve in my heart, they offered me a pig's or a cow's. And I said, no, it has to be a cow. I'm sorry."

However, in spite of her health issues, she remains surprisingly busy. Miriam is also in the fortunate position of working from home from time to time.

She regularly sells videos through celebrity greeting service Cameo, and gleefully describes how people will often make bizarre requests: "Very often they want me to fart," she revealed, "And I have to try and explain that I haven't got them stored, you know, if they're there, they're there and I'm happy to share. But otherwise, tough s***, you know."