Dench made her debut as a director in 1988 with the Renaissance Theatre Company's touring season, "Renaissance Shakespeare on the Road", co-produced with the Birmingham Rep, and ending with a three-month repertory programme at the Phoenix Theatre in London.
Leta 1989 je Judi Dench dobila vlogo Pru Forrest, tihe žene Toma Forresta, v BBC-jevi telenoveli "The Archers".