Judi Dench is the foremost actress in British theatre. She was first acclaimed in 1960 as the Juliet for her generation, in the controversial Franco Zeffirelli production of ROMEO AND JULIET at the Old Vic. Her stage career has included productions with the RSC, National Theatre, West End and tours all over the world.
She has triumphed in great Shakespearean leads, and on television and film, she has won several awards including an Oscar for her Queen Elizabeth I in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE and a BAFTA for her title role in IRIS. She was made a DBE in 1988 and a Companion of Honour in 2005.
Most recently she has starred in a diverse range of films including THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL, SKYFALL and the multi-Oscar-nominated PHILOMENA, the hit BBC TV series CRANFORD and alongside Ben Whishaw in PETER AND ALICE on stage in the West End.
