Judi Dench

Dame
Judi Dench
CH, DBE, FRSA
Dench in 2023
Born
Judith Olivia Dench

(1934-12-09) 9 December 1934 (age 91)
Heworth, North Riding of Yorkshire, England
NationalityEnglish
Occupations
  • Actress
  • artist
  • author
Years active1957–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 1971; died 2001)​
ChildrenFinty Williams
RelativesJeffery Dench (brother)
Emma Dench (niece)
Rebekah Elmaloglou (cousin)
Sebastian Elmaloglou (cousin)

Dame Judith Olivia Dench CH, DBE, FRSA (born 9 December 1934) is an English movie, stage and television actress.

Dench appeared in James Bond movies as the character M. She has also appeared in other large budget movies such as Mrs. Henderson Presents and Ladies in Lavender.

Personal life

Dench was born in Heworth, York, England. She is the daughter of Eleanora Olave (née Jones), a native of Dublin, and Reginald Arthur Dench, a doctor. Dench attended the Mount School, a Quaker independent secondary school in York. She became a Quaker.

In 1971, Dench married British actor Michael Williams. Their only child is Tara Cressida Frances Williams. She was born on 24 September 1972. She is known professionally as Finty Williams. Dench and her husband starred together several times. Michael Williams died from lung cancer in 2001, aged 65.

In early 2012, Dench said she had macular degeneration. Because of this, she needed someone to read scripts to her.

Dench's brother, Jeffery Dench, died on 27 March 2014 at the age of 85.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1964 The Third Secret Miss Humphries
1965 Four in the Morning Wife BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
1965 A Study in Terror Sally
1965 He Who Rides a Tiger Joanne
1968 A Midsummer Night's Dream Titania
1973 Luther Katherine
1974 Dead Cert Laura Davidson
1978 Langrishe, Go Down Imogen Langrishe BBC television film
1979 On Giant's Shoulders Hazel Wiles Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress
1985 The Angelic Conversation Narrator
1985 Wetherby Marcia Pilborough Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1985 A Room with a View Eleanor Lavish BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1987 84 Charing Cross Road Nora Doel Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1988 A Handful of Dust Mrs. Beaver BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
1989 Henry V Mistress Quickly
1989 Behaving Badly Bridget Mayor Channel 4 television serial
Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
1992 Indiana Jones Sarah Fullman
1993–1997 ABC For Kids Announcer
1995 Jack and Sarah Margaret
1995 GoldenEye M
1996 Hamlet Hecuba
1997 Mrs. Brown Queen Victoria BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
BAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actress in a Film
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the Year
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
1997 Tomorrow Never Dies M
1998 Shakespeare in Love Queen Elizabeth I Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Kansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actress
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
1999 Tea with Mussolini Arabella
1999 The World Is Not Enough M
2000 Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport Narrator Documentary
2000 The Last of the Blonde Bombshells Elizabeth British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
2000 Chocolat Armande Voizin Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
2001 Iris Iris Murdoch BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the Year
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
2001 The Shipping News Agnis Hamm Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
2002 The Importance of Being Earnest Lady Bracknell
2002 Die Another Day M
2002–05 Angelina Ballerina Miss Lilly Voice role
2003 Bugs! Narrator Short subject
2004 Home on the Range Mrs. Caloway Voice role
2004 The Chronicles of Riddick Aereon
2004 Ladies in Lavender Ursula Widdington
2005 Pride & Prejudice Lady Catherine de Bourgh
2005 Mrs Henderson Presents Laura Henderson St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated – British Independent Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated – London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the Year
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
2006 The Magic Roundabout Narrator
2006 Casino Royale M Nominated – National Film Award for Best Actress
2006 Notes on a Scandal Barbara Covett British Independent Film Award for Best Actress
Evening Standard British Film Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Academy Award for Best Actress
Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
Nominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actress
Nominated – London Film Critics' Circle for British Actress of the Year
Nominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
Nominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
2007 Go Inside to Greet the Light Narrator
2007, 2009 Cranford Miss Matty Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
Nominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a Movie
Satellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
2008 Quantum of Solace M
2009 Rage Mona Carvell
2009 Nine Liliane La Fleur Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion Picture
Nominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
Nominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
2011 Jane Eyre Mrs. Fairfax
2011 Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides Noblewoman Cameo
2011 My Week with Marilyn Dame Sybil Thorndike Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
2011 J. Edgar Anna Marie
2012 The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel Evelyn
2012 Run For Your Wife Bag Lady Cameo
2012 Skyfall M Post-production

Awards and nominations

Movies

Awards
Nominations

Television

Awards
Nominations

Theatre

Awards
Nominations

References

  1. ↑ "Entertainment: Hollywood's premier Dame". BBC News. 24 February 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2012.
  2. ↑ Staff writers (6 September 2002). "The Importance of Dame Judi". BBC News. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  3. ↑ Michael Billington (12 September 2005). "Please God, not retirement". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  4. ↑ Michael Billington (23 March 1998). "Judi Dench: Nothing like the Dame". The Guardian. UK. Retrieved 16 February 2009.
  5. ↑ Judi Dench says she isn't going blind, Reuters per ABC Online, 21 February 2012
  6. ↑ Called Judy by her husband in the movie, but imdb refers to the character by this name.

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