British Australian actress Miriam Margolyes spotted at Tasmanian cafe

It was a film crew, and Miriam Margolyes - known by countless people around the world as Professor Sprout from Harry Potter - was hoping to book a table at the Ulverstone cafe.

"At about eight o'clock they called and asked for a table out the front," Ms Muir said. "I said, 'that's not a problem, but you know, there are 10 motorbike riders out the front - will that be a problem?'

"And they said 'even better'."

Ms Muir said Ms Margolyes was an excellent customer, charming the staff and using her well-known quick wit to bring big laughs to the café.

"She just loved it," she said. "She was just chatting with them, laughing with them - it was hilarious.

"She was here for at least two hours."

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Ms Margolyes was here at Ulverstone as part of a series she is filming all about exploring Australia, with some of the filming happening right there at Thirty Three Cups.

However, despite being on the clock, fortunately there was still time for a meet-and-greet.

"Yeah, we all got photos of course," Ms Muir said. "It was pretty cool."

Ms Margolyes is known for her film and television work in Harry Potter, Call the Midwife, Miss Fisher's Murder Mysteries and more, having a career in film and theatre spanning decades.

She has won a BAFTA for Best Actress in a Supporting Role and is an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for Services to Drama, 2002 New Year Honours.