While working on Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo + Juliet, Miriam Margolyes, 80, confronted Leonardo DiCaprio about his sexuality (1996).

“Leonardo has grown into an extremely fine actor but back then he was just a handsome boy who didn’t always wash; he was quite smelly in that very male way some young men are,” Miriam, who portrayed the nurse in the film, says in her new biography This Is Much Is True.

“Sometimes he wore a dress. ’Leonardo, I think you’re gay,’ I said. He laughed and said, ‘No Miriam. I’m really not gay.’ But I was wrong. He did it to be talked about — much as I did when I smoked a pipe as an undergraduate at Cambridge.”

The 80-year-old went on to say: “We filmed in Mexico City, paradise for someone like me who loves fossicking around flea markets and antiques shops, and, like me, Leonardo was into bling in a big way, too.

“We’d spend hours going through the markets together. I don’t know that I’ve ever had such fun.”

The Call the Midwife guest performer, who has been open about her sexuality, remembered telling her mum she was gay.

Miriam told Holly Willoughby, 40, and Phillip Schofield, 59, on This Morning that her mother “couldn’t handle” the news.

Phillip, who announced his sexual orientation publicly in 2020, spoke with Miriam about her experience coming out to her parents.

Miriam Margolyes recalled coming out as gay to her mother (Image: Getty)

“You say that one of the things you regret – which I thought was really sad – was when you came out to your parents and then it wasn’t long afterwards your mum had her stroke,” he said.

Miriam said: “Well I always felt guilty about that. I mean you’ve been very brave, you came out. I sort of thought you might be gay when I met you because you’re a bit camp.

“I suppose I’m a bit camp, too.”

Philip agreed: “I think most people in telly are a bit camp, if I’m honest.”

Miriam turned to Holly: “Are you camp?” as she answered: “Yes, completely.”

The actress added: “She [her mother] couldn’t handle it and I think it was too much for her.

“That’s why I say people shouldn’t come out to people who can’t handle it.

“It’s tough to keep it in because I want to share.

“When I fell in love I wanted to tell everybody that I was in love.

“We’ve been together 53 years.”