Dame Judi Dench's Impressive Life and Career in Photos

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.