Judi Dench

Dame Judith Olivia Dench CH, DBE, FRSA (born 9 December 1934), simply known as Judi Dench, is an acclaimed British actress respected for her versatile roles in films, television, and stage performances. Deemed as one of Britain's finest actors, Dench has is recognized for her numerous roles across different genres throughout her seven-decade long career. She commenced her professional acting debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company, eventually gaining an illustrious reputation as one of the most remarkable British theatre performers through her work with National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Despite her prominence in theatre, Dench expanded her repertoire to include film roles, earning a BAFTA Award as Most Promising Newcomer. Acknowledged for her versatility, she received much acclaim for her noteworthy television work like ITV comedy series A Fine Romance and BBC1 romantic series As Time Goes By. She further gained international fame as M in GoldenEye, a role she reprised in eight James Bond films, and won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love.

Beyond acting, Dench also made significant contributions to numerous charitable causes and cultural institutions. She was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970, Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in 1988, and Member of the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) in 2005 among several other awards. Utilizing her influence and extensive reach, Dench actively supports various charity organizations, predominantly focused on theatre-related causes, cancer research, and wildlife conservation. Aware of the impact of her actions, Dench strives to advocate for progressive drug policies, persistently using her platform to promote these issues.