Dame Judi Dench is on the cover of the Times today. She's 80 this month and in the film of Roald Dahl's Esio Trot with Dustin Hoffman. In an interview inside the magazine she talks about age, having a new boyfriend and how when staying at her favourite London hotel she has a dressing gown with her initials embroidered on the lapel. 'I always had a sneaking suspicion that Johnny Depp wears it when he's in town.' Last year, I saw Peter & Alice at the theatre, and it goes without saying that JD was fantastic. Both Dame Judi and co-star Ben Whishaw were superb on stage, and in Skyfall. She's the best M ever; Ralph Fiennes has got big boots to fill in the new Bond film Spectre.
These beautiful portraits are by Robert Wilson.
Beautiful images!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous - and the best M ever, indeed.
ReplyDeleteJudi Dench is a superb actress and how lucky you are to see her on stage! Any discussion regarding the James Bond series must be divided into two genres
ReplyDeleteBYOLT & AYOLT with 'You Only Live Twice' as the Before and After line of demarcation. Hearing women give definitive statements on James Bond Movies is as silly as me delivering pronouncements on feminine hygiene products.
'M' is and forever will be the province of Bernard Lee and they should have called Dench's character 'Ms' or just something, anything different!
...I have a feeling you knew you were waving the red rag at this bull...
ReplyDeleteGorgeous. And, goes without saying, I must differ with GSL;).
ReplyDeleteShe is wonderful indeed! I loved Skyfall all the more.
ReplyDeleteAnd posted yesterday about her as Lady Catherine de Bourgh in the P&P film 2005.
Much as I love and admire Judi Dench, I must agree with GSL :)
ReplyDeleteRight you are Bird in Hand and I'll bet my dear LPC's very highly esteemed father the Professor Emeritus C" also shares our very high regard for Judi Dench but prefers that late great Bernard Lee as the one and only 'M'
ReplyDeleteI loved her as M, maybe just because she was cast against type. But after seeing the Marigold Hotel froth, I'd be happy if I never saw another movie with Judi Dench. (Oh oh, I can hear the villagers gathering their pitchforks and lighting their torches.)
ReplyDeleteIt is a rare privilege to make it to age 80 intact. She wears it well. Inspiring. I wish all women of that age could have the opportunity to stay in a hotel with an embroidered bathrobe made just for them.
ReplyDeleteI agree she was the awesome-est M ever. Beautiful photos!
ReplyDeleteShe is one of a number of fabulous older ladies in public life who demonstrate how important it is to have a 'life' as you age. Not everyone can be a Dame with a monogrammed dressing gown etc....however lots is out there ( and it's not all about £££) , if you look. It doesn't have to be 100% knitting & grandchildren, although if that's what makes you happy.....
ReplyDeleteDame Julie....keep on keeping on!
This lady has a beautiful soul, it sees itself in the look. I love her.
ReplyDeleteLove DJD. Beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteI'm sticking to my guns, GSL. Dame Judi rules.
ReplyDeleteMy Dear AW,
ReplyDeleteLet her rule as she did so wonderfully in Shakespeare in Love and Mrs. Brown but allow Ian Fleming's creation (and we must give him final say), a retired Admiral who served with great distinction during the War, to be thought of in the likeness of Bernard Lee who from stem to stern embodied the martinet from the Royal Navy who dispatched Commander Bond on missions of vital national security interest on behalf of Her Majesty The Queen.
I love this woman! She is truly an inspiration! Happy Birthday, Judi Dench.
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