5 Facts about Judi Dench’s Life and Deep Regrets on Family Size

Judi Dench, the renowned British actress, continues to captivate audiences with her talent and remarkable career spanning over 65 years. As she celebrates her 88th birthday, let’s uncover some lesser-known facts about this iconic figure in the entertainment industry.

Dench has never had plastic surgery, nor does she plan to.

Judi Dench has expressed her preference to embrace the natural process of aging gracefully. While she has considered plastic surgery in the past, she believes it is now too late for her, stating that she is “too old” for such procedures. Dench’s perspective reflects her acceptance of her age and the desire to remain true to herself as she continues to make her mark in the acting industry. The actress explained, “I wonder if there is some process where it could all be sucked out, and I could be out of there in time for dinner, but I’m frightened it would all drop off under the anesthetic.”

She can no longer read or write due to age-related macular degeneration.

AMD (Age-Related Macular Degeneration) is indeed a degenerative eye condition that can pose challenges to one’s vision. Despite facing this condition, Judi Dench remains determined to pursue her acting career. She has mentioned that she plans to rely on her photographic memory to learn her lines in the future. Dench’s resilience and determination to continue her craft serve as an inspiration to many.

Her first acting role was portraying a snail.

At age 5, Judi Dench had a role as a snail in a school play. Wearing a large shell made by her father, she was supposed to crawl across the stage. However, she made a mistake and stood up, revealing herself under the costume. The audience kindly prompted her to continue crawling, highlighting a charming and humorous moment from Dench’s early acting career.

Dench pioneered James Bond.

Indeed, Judi Dench made a significant impact as M in the James Bond film series. She became the first female to portray the character, bringing her own unique style and presence to the role. Dench’s portrayal of M spanned seven films, starting with GoldenEye in 1995 and concluding with Skyfall in 2012, with a brief cameo in Spectre in 2015.

Her performance as M garnered critical acclaim and earned her a dedicated fan following. Being crowned “the ultimate Bond girl” in a Cineworld Unlimited poll is a testament to the lasting impression she made on audiences.

She regrets not having more children.

In an interview, Dench shared her desire to have at least six children, but unfortunately, that didn’t come to fruition for her. It’s a personal aspect of her life that she opened up about, expressing her unfulfilled wish for a larger family. “I wanted a house full of them. I would have loved to have had that. But it didn’t happen. I didn’t get married until I was 36, so I left it a bit late,” she revealed.

Dench and her husband did consider adopting, but they faced challenges due to their age. Adoption agencies have certain age restrictions, and being over 40 might have been a factor in their case. However, Dench cherishes the bond she has with her daughter, Finty, and her grandson, Sam. Family is an important aspect of her life, and she finds happiness in the relationships she has with her loved ones.

If you admire Judi Dench as much as we do, take a look at these 13 talents whose fame has endured for decades.