- Judi Dench made her professional debut in 1957 at the Old Vic Theatre as Ophelia in Hamlet.
- She initially wanted to be a set designer before discovering her love for performance.
- Dench earned an Oscar for just eight minutes of screen time in Shakespeare in Love.
- She has portrayed Queen Victoria twice—first in Mrs. Brown and later in Victoria & Abdul.
- Dench became globally famous as “M” in the James Bond films, starting with GoldenEye (1995).
- She holds over 50 major acting awards across theatre, film, and television.
- Her eyesight has deteriorated due to macular degeneration, yet she continues to work.
- Dench once tattooed “Carpe Diem” on her wrist for her 81st birthday.
- She is known for being remarkably down-to-earth and humorous off-camera.
- Judi Dench is an expert gardener and spends hours pruning and planting at home.
- She’s part of the British royal honours list as a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
- She has voiced characters in animated films like Nine and Cats Don’t Dance.
- Dench starred in the same film, The Importance of Being Earnest, twice—decades apart.
- She acted on stage well into her eighties, defying retirement expectations.
- Judi Dench reportedly keeps stuffed toys of all her film characters at home as keepsakes.




