Dame Judi Dench: Seizing the Day

British actresses don’t come more legendary than Dame Judith Olivia Dench CH DBE FRSA – or Judi Dench, to me and you. While she may loathe being called a national treasure, her status, thanks to her incredible scope of work and her reputation as one of the nicest people in the industry means we're all going to call her one, regardless..

Now approaching her ninth decade, Dench – who had “Carpe Diem” inscribed on her wrist (her first tattoo) on her 81st birthday – continues to live life to the full, and long may it continue.

The Birth of an Icon

Born Judith Olivia Dench on December 9, 1934 in York, England, Dench discovered her love for acting at an early age. Her passion for the stage blossomed during her time at the Central School of Speech and Drama in London, where her dedication and talent quickly set her apart, foreshadowing the extraordinary career that lay ahead.

Ageing With Grace: Model Behaviour

Photographed by Nick Knight in early February 2020 as Covid-19 loomed like a dark cloud, Dench became the oldest person ever to grace the cover of British Vogue. She was a vision in floral Dolce & Gabbana that belied her then 85 years.

During her interview with the magazine, Dench was refreshingly open about her attitude to ageing. “I don’t like it at all,” she told features director Giles Hattersley. “I don’t think about it. I don’t want to think about it. They say age is an attitude… it’s horrible.”

She also went on to call upon poet Dylan Thomas to sum up her thoughts on retirement. “Rage, rage against the dying of the light,” she said. “Never was a truer word spoken.”

However, despite often grumbling about getting older, it’s clear that Dench embraces her age, without going out of her way to change her wrinkles. And what’s more, even though she sadly suffers from age-related macular degeneration, meaning her eyesight has deteriorated to the extent that she is no longer able to see on film sets - “you just deal with it,” she told the Sunday Mirror – the job offers continue to roll in.

She was also recently interviewed by Louis Theroux, at her cottage home in Surrey, where she demonstrated a wit and sharpness that certainly hasn't been dulled by age, telling him to f*** off, when he dared to call her a national treasure, insisting it made her sound like a "dusty old cupboard."

Dame Judi Dench: Charity Matters

Dench is not only an icon on the stage and screen but also a dedicated philanthropist. Having lost her beloved husband, Michael Williams, to lung cancer in 2001, she is patron of Women Against Lung Cancer, a campaign of the Roy Castle Lung Foundation, while she also co-hosted the Unite for the Future Gala, benefitting the victims of 9/11 and Doctors Without Borders.

She is also a staunch advocate for animal welfare, and her support for organisations like the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home reflects her compassionate nature and commitment to making a positive impact beyond the entertainment world.

Happy Birthday Dame Judi!

In celebrating Dame Judi Dench's birthday, now is the time to honour not just an extraordinary actress but a woman whose life has been characterised by elegance, talent and a heartfelt commitment to making the world a better place.

As she continues to grace us with her presence, she remains an inspiration to aspiring artists and a beacon of light for those navigating the journey of life.