Long before she became a dame, a young British actress was making her mark on the theater scene. Judi Dench got her start in 1957 with the Old Vic Company, starring in a few Shakespeare plays. Despite continued success in British theater, Dench branched out to television and film. One of her breakout roles was playing Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret. After continuing to act in starring roles in such series as A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By, Dench started appearing in more popular films. Due to her involvement in various causes, Dench advanced to Dame in 1988.
Dench became an international name when she starred as M in the 1995 James Bond film, GoldenEye. She continued to play the role in Bond films through Spectre in 2015. With numerous BAFTA Awards under her belt, Dench was awarded the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in 1998’s Shakespeare in Love. Throughout her prolific film career, Dench never left her love for theater behind. She continued to act on stage, earning a Tony Award in 1999 for her role in Amy’s View. In 2020, Dench starred as Commander Root in Artemis Fowl, which is based on the first novel in the series by Eoin Colfer. Coming up later in 2021, Dench will be seen in Belfast, where she stars alongside Jamie Dornan.
A lifelong philanthropist, Dench supports wildlife conservation causes like Fauna and Flora International and Explorers Against Extinction. She’s also a devout supporter of theater, regularly supporting Drama Studio London, Questors Theatre and Mountainview Academy of Theatre Arts.
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1
1957
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A 22-year-old English actress, Judi Dench, is set to play the Virgin Mary in a production of the York Mystery Plays.
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2
1957
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In the same year, Dench made her professional stage debut as Ophelia in Hamlet at the Old Vic theatre in London.
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3
1968
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Dench took on the role of Sally Bowles in the musical Cabaret. She earned rave reviews for the long-running role.
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4
1969
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In the role of Hermione, Dench dazzled on stage in Shakespeare's A Winter's Tale at The Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, England.
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5
1982
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She won a British Academy of Film and Television Arts Award for best actress in A Fine Romance.
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6
1988
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Dench posed in front of Buckingham Palace after receiving her Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire.
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7
1994
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Dench appeared in a National Theatre production of The Seagull by Anton Chekhov.
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8
1995
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Dench gains popularity across the pond starring as M, the head of MI6, in the James Bond film GoldenEye.
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9
1997
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The British drama Mrs Brown saw success worldwide. Dench won a Golden Globe and BAFTA Award for the role.
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10
1999
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The role of Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love earned Dench an Oscar win for Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role.
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11
1999
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Dench attended the 53rd Annual Tony Awards in New York City and picked up a Tony for Best Actress in a Play for her role in Amy's View.
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12
2001
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The 2001 drama Iris told the story of novelist Iris Murdoch. Dench played the title role, which won her a BAFTA Award.
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13
2003
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Dench returned to the stage in the RSC production of All's Well That Ends Well in Stratford-Upon-Avon.
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14
2005
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In Mrs. Henderson Presents, Dench portrayed Laura Henderson in the British-American biographical musical film. She received an Oscar nomination for the role.
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15
2006
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The beloved London star returned to the stage in Hay Fever, a West End revival.
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16
2011
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The Freedom of the City of London is awarded to those who have achieved success or recognition in their field. The honor was bestowed on Dench at the Guildhall in London.
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17
2013
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Dench walks the red carpet for the premiere of Philomena at the 70th Venice International Film Festival in Italy.
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18
2013
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Dame Judi Dench was honored by the Iris Murdoch Dementia Service Development Centre at Stirling University after receiving a doctorate for her contribution to film.
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19
2018
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Dench received the Donostia Award at the 66th San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain.
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20
2020
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Backing an important cause, Dench stars with Benedict Cumberbatch in the Red Nose Day short film, "What is it to be human?"
Jennifer is a freelance writer/editor covering entertainment, lifestyle, travel and health. When she's not working, she's watching Broadway musicals and applying to be a game show contestant