Judi Dench

Judi Dench is an English actress known for her extensive stage and screen career, including her Oscar-winning performance in Shakespeare in Love. Dench was born in York, England, and grew up in a family connected to the theater, with both parents involved in local productions. She attended The Mount School in York before studying acting at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where she trained for a professional stage career.

She began acting with the Old Vic Company in the late 1950s, earning early acclaim for her performances in roles including Hamlet and Cabaret. Dench transitioned to television and film throughout the 1960s and 1970s, becoming known in the U.K. for shows such as A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By. Her international rise accelerated when she was cast as M in GoldenEye (1995), a role she continued through multiple Bond films, including Tomorrow Never Lies (1997) and Casino Royale (2006).

Dench’s notable work includes Mrs. Brown (1997), Iris (2001), Notes on a Scandal (2006) and Philomena (2013). She was awarded an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in 1999’s Shakespeare in Love and has also received a Tony, six BAFTAs and seven Olivier Awards.

Dench married actor Michael Williams in 1971. They welcomed one daughter, Finty Williams (born in 1972). The couple remained together until Williams’ death in 2001. Dench later entered a long-term relationship with conservationist David Mills in 2010.