Judi Dench’s first professional job was in Liverpool, in September . She played Ophelia in the Old Vic Theatre Company’s production of Hamlet. She stayed with the company until , and then she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company, where she worked for several years.
Her film career began in , when she played a role in a film called The Third Secret. Then, in , she appeared in the film Four in the Morning and received an award as Most Promising Newcomer. In , she tried musical theatre, playing Sally Bowles in the first London production of Cabaret. She was very nervous about this role, as she thought that she couldn’t sing. However, although she has an unusual voice, she played the role well.
Judi Dench married Michael Williams on February 5th , and it was indeed ‘a fine romance’. They stayed together until Michael died from lung cancer in . Their only daughter, Tara Cressida Frances (Finty) Williams, was born on September 24th . She is also an actress, although her parents didn’t really want her to follow their profession. Finty’s son, Sam, was born on June 6th . Her parents didn’t know she was pregnant, so their grandson was a big surprise – but a nice one!
The Queen made Judi Dench a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in . This was for her contribution to acting, and it means that she is addressed as Dame Judi Dench.