Miriam Margolyes refused to participate in a "magic sex stunt" which promised her a longer life.
The 77-year-old actress – who travels to America in her upcoming BBC Two documentary ‘Miriam’s Dead Good Adventure’ – was shocked when she was invited to take part in a sexual activity which is designed to prolong life.
In San Diego, the ‘Call the Midwife’ actress met a group of people who believe that "regular energetic orgasms" add on years to life and wanted her to participate in their X-rated ritual.
However, the star declined their beckoning, and said: "I don’t want to do this.
"This is not for me. My sexual energy is my own."
The ‘Trollied’ actress – who loves chomping on raw onions and giant radishes – gets asked whether she prefers vegetables to sex, to which she replied: "If it was bad sex, I’d rather have a radish."
Miriam decided to embark on the new show – which tackles the taboo of human mortality – because she openly admitted to being terrified about ageing and thinks English people should talk more openly about death.
Previously commenting on the nation’s treatment with passing, she said: "It’s unacknowledged and unwelcome. We don’t talk about it, it’s like a conspiracy of silence – and that makes it much harder."
During her show, she also meets a group of people who believe they have found "the cure for death", taking freezing cryotherapy baths.
One man from the group even invites her to his 500th birthday party, and Miriam is overwhelmed but claims she cannot "dismiss" their beliefs.
She added: "I can’t quite take it all on board but I can’t dismiss it.
"Precedence is against them though but they may have the last laugh."