Miriam Margolyes Reveals Her Unpleasant Experience with Schwarzenegger
Miriam Margolyes, who appeared with Arnold Schwarzenegger in End of Days, has spoken out about his behaviour on set, including a bizarre incident and claims of inappropriate conduct.
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s career has seen him share the screen with a remarkable array of actors, but not all of his co-stars have fond memories of their time together. Among the more surprising pairings is Miriam Margolyes, who featured alongside Schwarzenegger in the late-90s supernatural thriller End of Days. The film, set in New York, follows a police officer who stumbles upon a plot involving the Antichrist, with Margolyes portraying a sinister caretaker. Their on-screen clash is as peculiar as it is memorable, but it’s what happened off-camera that has drawn the most attention.
On-Set Tensions and Unusual Incidents
For many, working with a Hollywood icon of Schwarzenegger’s stature would be a career highlight. Margolyes, however, has made it clear that her experience was anything but positive. Never one to shy away from speaking her mind, she has recounted her grievances in several interviews, including a 2022 appearance on the I’ve Got News For You podcast.
“He was actually quite rude,”
she stated.
“He farted in my face. Now, I fart, of course I do – but I don’t fart in people’s faces. He did it deliberately, right in my face. I was playing Satan’s sister, and he was killing me, so he had me in a position where I couldn’t escape and was lying on the floor. And he just farted. It wasn’t on film, it was in one of the pauses, but I haven’t forgiven him for it.”
The incident, which occurred during a break in filming, left a lasting impression on Margolyes, who has not hesitated to share her story publicly.
Allegations of Inappropriate Behaviour
Margolyes’ complaints extend beyond this odd episode. She has also accused Schwarzenegger of inappropriate conduct towards women during the production, claiming he was
“awfully gropey with women”
on set. According to her, she was spared only because he
“didn’t fancy me”
. Despite repeated requests for comment, Schwarzenegger has remained silent on the matter, choosing not to engage in what has become a rather one-sided dispute. His decision to avoid responding may be a calculated one, as trading barbs with a well-known British actress famed for her candidness and colourful language is unlikely to benefit his public image.
Career Consequences and Public Perception
Whether or not Margolyes’ claims had any impact on Schwarzenegger’s career is open to debate, but End of Days is widely regarded as a low point in his filmography. The film’s lukewarm reception was part of a series of underwhelming releases that led some to question whether the action star’s golden era was coming to an end. During this period, he reportedly passed on more promising projects in favour of less successful ventures, a run of decisions that did little to bolster his reputation.
The notion that a single incident could derail a career as robust as Schwarzenegger’s may seem far-fetched, but the film itself is hardly grounded in reality. In its final act, his character, possessed by evil forces, is compelled to make the ultimate sacrifice. It’s a fittingly bizarre conclusion to a production remembered as much for its off-screen drama as for its outlandish plot.