Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench is a renowned British actress recognized for her significant contributions to stage, television, and film. She launched her professional career in 1957 with the Old Vic Company, performing in various Shakespeare's plays. Her subsequent work with the National Theatre Company, the Royal Shakespeare Company, and in the British theatre scene distinguished her as an exceptional talent early in her career. Notably, she won a BAFTA Award as Most Promising Newcomer early in her career.

Transitioning to screen work in the 1960s, Dench became a popular figure on British television, starring in several series including the BAFTA award-winning "A Fine Romance" from 1981 to 1984, and the BBC1 romantic comedy series "As Time Goes By" from 1992 to 2005. Her film career flourished with her portrayal of M in the James Bond series, starting with "GoldenEye" in 1995, a role she reprised in eight films until "Spectre" in 2015. This role gained her international recognition.

Throughout her career, Dench has accumulated numerous accolades for her performances. She received an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in "Shakespeare in Love." She has also won two Golden Globe Awards, six British Academy Film Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, a Tony Award, and seven Olivier Awards. Dench has been nominated eight times for an Academy Award, including for her memorable performances in "Mrs Brown," "Chocolat," "Iris," "Mrs Henderson Presents," "Notes on a Scandal," "Philomena," and "Belfast."

Dench's contributions to the field of drama were recognized in 1988 when she was made a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). She also holds the distinction of being one of the first female members of the Garrick Club as of 2024. Off-screen, Dench holds positions of prestige, such as the President of Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts since 2006 and the Drama Studio London Alumni Foundation. She has also demonstrated her commitment to wildlife conservation as a participant in the Explorers against Extinction wildlife conservation fundraiser, Sketch For Survival.