Actress, Dame Judi Dench’s life has been subject to media scrutiny for over six decades thanks to her remarkable Hollywood career.
Famous for such roles as Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare In Love,” boss M in “GoldenEye” and other “James Bond” films, Hollywood icon, Dame Judi Dench, has sailed through calm and turbulent waters in the last six decades.
Her input in entertainment made her into one of the few actresses to remain an A-lister even in her 80s, snagging major roles in films. Therefore, it is safe to say that Dench’s life and career are two inseparable parallels, as the major highlights of her 86-years on earth played out in the spotlights.
JUDI DENCH’S LIFE AS AN ACTRESS
Born in Heworth, York, to mother, Eleanora Olive, and father, Reginald Arthur Dench in 1934, the star knew she wanted a life in entertainment from the onset. Judi Dench embraced performing arts at an early age, dressing up like a star and singing as her mom played the piano.
Her father’s position as the resident doctor at Theatre Royal further bolstered her interest in the arts, as she tagged along with him on occasions, thereby witnessing some epic performances.
The star went on to enroll in an all-girls Quaker school, before proceeding to the York School of Art. After a brief stay in the institution, Judi Dench joined her brother, Jeffery, then an aspiring young actor, at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art, London. The actress once credited her brother with prompting her decision to enroll in the school and pursue a career in acting.
That sole decision set the stage for the icon’s life in the spotlight. Before long, she began acting in theatres, quickly establishing a name for herself. Dench’s acting prowess earned her several awards and nominations.
Today, she is a six-time British Academy Film Award-winner, four-time BAFTA TV Award-winner, two-time Golden Globe Award winner, six-time Laurence Olivier Award winner. Additionally, she has 3 LFCC wins, 2 SAG Awards, one Tony Award, and one Oscar Award among others.
Over sixty years in the movie industry, Dench remains a celebrated actress, despite her failing eyesight caused by macular degeneration. She achieved a remarkable feat in 2020, by appearing on the front covers of British Vogue, making her the oldest woman to do so at 85!
JUDI DENCH’S HOLLYWOOD CAREER
Dench ventured into professional acting in 1957, appearing as Ophelia in the Royal Court Theatre production of “Hamlet.” In December 1951, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, staring as Anya in “The Cherry Orchard.,” and later as Isabella in Stratford-upon-Avon’s “Measure for Measure.”
The actress continued making waves in various theatre productions before making her film debut in “The Third Secret,” in 1964. She won her first BAFTA Award for her appearance in her next film, “Talking To A Stranger,” 1966. That same year, Dench snagged another BAFTA for her role in “Four In The Morning.”
Later in her career, Dench ventured into musicals, playing Sally Bowles in “Cabaret.” For the next two decades, the icon made some of her most remarkable appearances as leading characters in several Royal Shakespeare Company films, winning several awards and nominations.
She went on to star in James Bond films like “License To Kill,” “GoldenEye,” “Tomorrow Never Dies,” and “Spectre,” among others. She also played Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in love,” which earned her an Oscar win.
Judi Dench’s other notable movies include “Amy’s View,” “The World Is Not Enough,” “Iris,” “Mrs. Brown,” “The Importance Of Being Earnest,” “Romeo and Juliet,” “Chocolat,” “Notes On A Scandal,” “Philomena,” and the 2019 movie, “Cats,” which the star acknowledged as one of her worst roles.
DENCH’S OSCAR WIN
Despite Dench’s numerous movie performances, her most notable remains her eight minutes appearance as Queen Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love.”
The actress won her first, and only Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, for the brow-raising performance. During her acceptance at the 1998 Oscars, Dench famously admitted she deserved only “a little bit” of the recognition considering her brief eight-minute stint in the movie.
But the rest of the world seemed to think otherwise, as in those eight minutes, this talented icon brought to life the legendary monarch, with undeniable grace and perfection. Thus, she set the production’s plot in motion, setting the stage for the theatrical climax it offered.