Judi Dench Biography

Name:Judi Dench

Born:9 December 1934 (Age: 76)

Where:York, England

Height:5' 3"

Awards:1 Oscar
             9 BAFTAs
             1 Golden Globe

As if singlehandedly setting out to prove that actresses aren't necessarily finished when they reach A Certain Age, Dame Judi Dench achieved her greatest fame and loudest plaudits while in her mid-sixties. Formerly known as one of the UK's finest Shakespearians, once she'd taken to screen acting in earnest she was continually Oscar-nominated, for her roles in Mrs Brown, Shakespeare In Love, Chocolat, Iris and Mrs Henderson Presents, and this despite a general aversion to film-making. Dench has stated that, in films, people are cast primarily because they LOOK like a character, whereas on stage, in an hour and a half, she has the opportunity and ability to convince the audience she is whatever she chooses to be. THAT's acting.

Judi Dench  was born on December 9th, 1934, in York, England. Her mother, Olave, hailed from Dublin, while her father, Reginald, studied medicine at Trinity College and then worked as a doctor in York. Inadvertently, it was he who introduced Judi Dench to the world of theatre, as she would accompany him backstage at York's Theatre Royal when he was busy as the company's GP. Touring performers would often be guests in the Dench household. 

As a child, as she is now, Judi Dench  was very vivacious, hot-tempered and loquacious, one teacher noting that she should learn to be quiet. These qualities she surely gained from her parents. Reginald was an extremely amusing fellow and a fine raconteur. This made him hugely popular, especially with children. Judi Dench  recalls how kids would run after the car, grabbing at the handles, whenever he arrived or left. That temper came from Olave, who once threw a vacuum cleaner down the stairs, aiming at a sales rep who'd called to inquire about it. Olave also made a point of often criticising her daughter, though she quietly worshipped her.

Home was a sprawling Victorian house which Judi Dench  shared with her parents and two older brothers (Michael would follow his father into medicine, while Jeffrey would lead Judi Dench  into the theatre).Judi Dench had possession of the attic room and, as daddy's favourite, was allowed to draw on the walls. Judi Dench i would later describe her young life as being "like Swallows And Amazons", playing with bikes and rollerskates, making phone systems out of string and tin cans. She'd always be dressing up and singing along with the family as her mother played piano. There'd be no TV in the house until the Coronation in 1953.