Judi Dench

Profession: Actress
Place/Date of Birth: North Yorkshire , 10 December 2020

Dame Judi welcomes lottery grant - July 26 2007
Dame Judi Dench has joined other lovers of York Minster in celebrating a £10 million Lottery grant for vital restoration work at the world-famous cathedral.

The Oscar-winning actress, who is from York, said the huge grant which has been earmarked for the Minster by the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) was "marvellous news".

The money will be used to fund work on the east end of the building, including the world famous Great East Window, and to establish "exciting plans" for training skilled craftsmen and volunteers.

The Minster is the largest Gothic cathedral in Northern Europe and one of the UK's most important buildings.

It is currently in the middle of extensive renovation. The east end, which was begun in the late 14th century, is currently in an unstable condition with a noticeable tilt towards the east.

Dame Judi, who is long-term supporter of York Minster, said: "I was born in York and the Minster is particularly dear to my heart.

"It's also the backdrop to my theatrical heritage as I had my acting debut there in the Fifties when I performed in the Mystery Plays.

"It's marvellous news that the Heritage Lottery Fund has been so generous and ensured that the vital restoration work of this most wonderful and iconic building will now take place."

Children’s charity honours celebs - May 15 2007
Dame Judi Dench and Noel Edmonds are among celebrities honoured by the NSPCC today for their work in fighting child cruelty.

They will be inducted into the children’s charity’s Hall of Fame in a ceremony at the House of Commons.

Artist Tracey Emin, former World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty, best-selling author Torey Hayden and teenage actor Nick Hoult are among the six who will be recognised for their contributions to the NSPCC.

They will join a host of other stars, including David and Victoria Beckham, pop group Atomic Kitten and former England cricketer Alec Stewart, who have been invited into the Hall of Fame since its launch in 2004.

Dame Mary Marsh, NSPCC director and chief executive, said: "The celebrities due to be inducted into the Hall of Fame have shown enthusiasm and commitment to the NSPCC’s aim of ending child cruelty.

"They have fund-raised, fronted campaigns and spoken passionately about the work of the charity, encouraging others to act now to end child abuse.

"The ceremony is an opportunity for us to give them a special thank you and let them know how much we appreciate their support and dedication."

Dame Judi said: "I am proud to be associated with the work of the NSPCC and hope that my involvement will encourage others to help in the fight to protect our children."

Noel added: "I strongly believe that we have to improve the way we treat children, it is shocking to think of the numbers of children who are still suffering abuse, neglect and cruelty."

Judi thrilled at Oscar nomination - Jan 23 2007
Dame Judi Dench says she’s particularly pleased at her Oscar nod - because she’s in "frighteningly good company".

The actress says it’s an honour to be nominated alongside Dame Helen Mirren and Kate Winslet.

"I’m very pleased. I’m in frighteningly good company. It’s very nice of the Queen to allow me in for a minute," she joked.

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Biography

Dame Judith Olivia Dench was born on December 9 1934 in York to Reginald Arthur Dench and his wife Olave. She began her career as an actress playing in the first three revival performances of the historic York Mystery Plays before training at London’s Central School of Speech and Drama. Making her debut in Hamlet in Liverpool, 1967 Judi went on to appear in repertory in Oxford and Nottingham.

In 1961 she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, making her name as an award winning actress playing several roles in both London and Stratford over the following twenty years. She also appeared in several non-RSC West End plays and began to appear more frequently on television, with small roles in Z Cars and The Troubleshooters.

Judi made her big screen debut in Sherlock Holmes adventure, A Study in Terror, in 1965 which was followed in 1968 by A Midsummers Night Dream. By 1980 she was a television favourite and a shoo-in for the role of Aunt Sadie in the television adaptation of Nancy Mitford’s Love in a Cold Climate. Meanwhile the mid-80s brought with them films including The Browning Version and A Room With A View and the nineties saw her leading sitcom, As Time Goes By.

Still racking up the stage awards Judi is now the movie industry’s go-to woman for the part of ’older lady’, be it playing Queen Elizabeth I, Queen Victoria or a Shakespearean dame. She has clocked up the awards and acclaim for films such as Mrs Brown, Shakespeare in Love, The Importance of Being Ernest and Mrs Henderson Presents. Her appearances as M in recent James Bond films and as the spooky Barbara in Notes on a Scandal have proved that she is so much more than the period actress she is often seen as.

Married to fellow actor Michael Williams in 1971 (he died of lung cancer in 2001), Judi has one daughter, Tara Cressida Williams. Awarded the OBE in 1970 she is also president of the Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts in London.
updates January 2007
July 2007

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