JUDI DENCH: BOW DOWN TO THE QUEEN ON AND OFF STAGE

Thrashing her critics for suggesting that she retire, at the age of eighty-four, Dame Judi Dench has been ruling the stage with her intense performances for a while now. The actress, who was ridiculed for her croaky voice at the starting of her career, has since then established her name successfully in English theatre and film industry with her diligence and tenacity. With a repertoire in theatre, having worked with the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dench has been a celebrated success with seven Oscar nominations, two Golden Globes and many more accolades for her work in theatre, television, and film. Her most recent works include "Murder on the Orient Express" and "Victoria & Abdul".

Dame Judith Olivia Dench was born on December 9, 1934, in Heworth, North Riding of Yorkshire, England. Dench had been in regular touch with the theatre since her childhood because her father (a physician), served as the General Practitioner for the York Theatre while her mother was its wardrobe mistress. Despite having seen it all from close quarters, Dench was not interested in acting initially and trained instead as a set designer. Her fascination for acting and drama developed when her brother Jeff attended the Central School of Speech and Drama. She later applied and was accepted at the Royal Albert Hall, London. In 1957, she made her debut on the professional stage as Ophelia in "Hamlet" with Old Vic Company at the Royal Court Theatre, Liverpool. With several ups and downs, she was doing fairly well in 1961 when Peter Hall asked her to help form the Royal Shakespeare Company. What has followed since, is her journey on and off stage, subsequently entering the big and small screens.

With her vivacious and easy going personality, Dench has been known for pulling off many practical jokes on the sets. She has also maintained a tradition of gifting cushion covers embroidered with bawdy language and cuss words to her directors. Though she has been a hit on the silver as well as the golden screen, her love for theatre has always been evident. She stated once that in movies, people are cast for a certain character primarily on the basis of their looks whereas on stage it depends on the artist’s abilities to convince the audience of being the character they are playing. Like all challenges in her way, Dench has dealt with old age in similar fashion. After much effort at abating the macular degeneration, she underwent a surgery of her eye and maintains that it is not an issue for her. Dench extends her helping hand and has been an active participant in political and social movements. Among many other, she has worked with the indigenous organization, Survival International, defending the tribal people, the San of Botswana and the Arhuaco of Columbia against tyranny and racism. She is also the patron of the Karuna Trust, which supports the poorest and oppressed sections of the Indian population.

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