Miriam Margolyes doesn't worry about being cancelled.

The 84-year-old actress has faced a backlash for her criticism of the Israeli government's actions in Gaza but she believes she has a responsibility to speak out and try to instigate change, and she doesn't worry about the consequences for her career.

She told The Guardian newspaper: "People say: 'You're just an actor, for f***'s sake, shut up.' Well, that is a point of view. I don't happen to share that.

"I think that if you have a chance to make an impact for good, to change things, then you should. I think it's an absolute requirement, and people don't, out of fear sometimes. They are afraid of being cancelled. You can't cancel me!"

Miriam tries to use her age to her advantage - but admitted there is no reason why people "should" listen to her.

She said: "If somebody p***** me off, I'll say, 'Now listen to me, I'm 84!' But I don't see why they should!"

The Harry Potter actress is returning to the Edinburgh festival for the second year running with a new version of her show, which is based on the characters of Charles Dickens, and she admitted it isn't a hardship for her because she enjoys it so much.

She said: "I'm very lucky. There's relatively few people of my age still working.

"[There is] nothing like a live audience. It's like a kiss, it's a caress."

"I just enjoy doing it so much. My favourites like Mrs Gamp, Miss Havisham, I think I'm a perfect person to give voice to these amazing creations of which there were very many. So it's a bit of a w***, really."

However, the actress did not that life on the road can be tiring these days.

She said: "I'm gathering my powers and I will deliver, but it is a struggle."

And while she has an "immediate feeling of joy and competence" when she steps out onto the stage, Miriam admitted that hasn't always come naturally.

Asked if she's always felt confident during a live performance, she replied: "No, it has come with time. What I am conscious of now is that people know who I am and that is really relatively recent."