Dame Judith Olivia Dench  (born 9 December 1934) is an English movie, stage and television actress.

Judi Dench has appeared in James Bond movies since 1995 as the character M. She has also appeared in other large budget movies such as Mrs. Henderson Presents and Ladies in Lavender.

Personal life
Dench was born in Heworth, York, England. She is the daughter of Eleanora Olave (née Jones), a native of Dublin, and Reginald Arthur Dench, a doctor. Dench attended the Mount School, a Quaker independent secondary school in York. She became a Quaker. 

In 1971, Dench married British actor Michael Williams. Their only child is Tara Cressida Frances Williams. She was born on 24 September 1972. She is known professionally as Finty Williams. Dench and her husband starred together several times. Michael Williams died from lung cancer in 2001, aged 65.

In early 2012, Dench said she had macular degeneration. Because of this, she needed someone to read scripts to her.

Dench's brother, Jeffery Dench, died on 27 March 2014 at the age of 85.

Filmography 
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable| Notes
|-
| 1964
| 
| Miss Humphries
|
|-
| 1965
| Four in the Morning
| Wife
| BAFTA Award for Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles
|-
| 1965
| 
| Sally
|
|-
| 1965
| He Who Rides a Tiger
| Joanne
|
|-
| 1968
| 
| Titania
|
|-
| 1973
| Luther
| Katherine
|
|-
| 1974
| Dead Cert
| Laura Davidson
|
|-
| 1978
| Langrishe, Go Down
| Imogen Langrishe
| BBC television film
|-
| 1979
| On Giant's Shoulders
| Hazel Wiles
| Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress
|-
| 1985
| 
| Narrator
|
|-
| 1985
| Wetherby
| Marcia Pilborough
| Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 1985
| 
| Eleanor Lavish
| BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 1987
| 84 Charing Cross Road
| Nora Doel
| Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 1988
| 
| Mrs. Beaver
| BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 1989
| Henry V
| Mistress Quickly
|
|-
| 1989
| Behaving Badly
| Bridget Mayor
| Channel 4 television serialNominated – British Academy Television Award for Best Actress
|-
| 1992
| Indiana Jones
| Sarah Fullman
|
|-
| 1993–1997
| ABC For Kids
| Announcer
|
|-
| 1995
| Jack and Sarah
| Margaret
|
|-
| 1995
| GoldenEye
| M
|
|-
| 1996
| Hamlet
| Hecuba
|
|-
| 1997
| Mrs. Brown
| Queen Victoria
| BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleBAFTA Scotland Award for Best Actress in a FilmGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaChicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the YearOnline Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressSatellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaNominated – Academy Award for Best ActressNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role
|-
| 1997
| Tomorrow Never Dies
| M
|
|-
| 1998
| Shakespeare in Love
| Queen Elizabeth I
| Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressBAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleKansas City Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting ActressNational Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated – Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
|-
| 1999
| Tea with Mussolini
| Arabella
|
|-
| 1999
| 
| M
|
|-
| 2000
| Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of the Kindertransport
| Narrator
| Documentary
|-
| 2000
| 
| Elizabeth
| British Academy Television Award for Best ActressGolden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television FilmNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a MovieNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
|-
| 2000
| Chocolat
| Armande Voizin
| Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting RoleNominated – Academy Award for Best Supporting ActressNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion PictureNominated – Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress – Motion Picture
|-
| 2001
| Iris
| Iris Murdoch
|BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleLondon Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the YearNominated – Academy Award for Best ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaNominated – Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleNominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
|-
| 2001
| 
| Agnis Hamm
| Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting RoleNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Supporting Role
|-
| 2002
| The Importance of Being Earnest
| Lady Bracknell
|
|-
| 2002
| Die Another Day
| M
|
|-
| 2002–05
| Angelina Ballerina
| Miss Lilly
| Voice role
|-
| 2003
| Bugs!
| Narrator
| Short subject
|-
| 2004
| Home on the Range
| Mrs. Caloway
| Voice role
|-
| 2004
| 
| Aereon
|
|-
| 2004
| Ladies in Lavender
| Ursula Widdington
|
|-
| 2005
| Pride & Prejudice
| Lady Catherine de Bourgh
|
|-
| 2005
| Mrs Henderson Presents
| Laura Henderson
| St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated – Academy Award for Best ActressNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated – British Independent Film Award for Best ActressNominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or ComedyNominated – London Film Critics' Circle Award for British Actress of the YearNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleNominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
|-
| 2006
| 
| Narrator
|
|-
| 2006
| Casino Royale
| M
| Nominated – National Film Award for Best Actress
|-
| 2006
| Notes on a Scandal
| Barbara Covett
| British Independent Film Award for Best ActressEvening Standard British Film Award for Best ActressNominated – Academy Award for Best ActressNominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Leading RoleNominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated – Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture DramaNominated – London Film Critics Circle Award for Best ActressNominated – London Film Critics' Circle for British Actress of the YearNominated – Online Film Critics Society Award for Best ActressNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading RoleNominated – Satellite Award for Best Actress – Motion Picture Drama
|-
| 2007
| Go Inside to Greet the Light
| Narrator
|
|-
| 2007, 2009
| Cranford
| Miss Matty
| Nominated – British Academy Television Award for Best ActressNominated – Golden Globe Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television FilmNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress – Miniseries or a MovieSatellite Award for Best Actress – Miniseries or Television Film
|-
| 2008
| Quantum of Solace
| M
|
|-
| 2009
| Rage
| Mona Carvell
|
|-
| 2009
| Nine
| Liliane La Fleur
| Satellite Award for Best Cast – Motion PictureNominated – Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best CastNominated – Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion PictureNominated – Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
|-
| 2011
| Jane Eyre
| Mrs. Fairfax
|
|-
| 2011
| Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides
| Noblewoman
| Cameo
|-
| 2011
| My Week with Marilyn
| Dame Sybil Thorndike
| Nominated – BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role
|-
| 2011
| J. Edgar
| Anna Marie
|
|-
| 2012
| The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel
| Evelyn
|
|-
| 2012
| Run For Your Wife
| Bag Lady 
| Cameo
|-
| 2012
| Skyfall| M
| Post-production
|}

 Awards and nominations 
 Movies 
Awards
1966: BAFTA Film Award for Best Newcomer – Four in the Morning1989: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – A Handful of Dust1989: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – A Room with a View1998: BAFTA Film Award for Best Actress – Mrs. Brown1998: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Mrs. Brown1998: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Mrs. Brown1999: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shakespeare in Love1999: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shakespeare in Love1999: SAG Award for Best Cast – Shakespeare in Love2001: BAFTA Academy Fellowship Award
2001: SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress – Chocolat2002: BAFTA movie Award for Best Actress – Iris2007: British Independent Film Award for Best Actress – Notes on a Scandal2009: Satellite Award for Best Cast – NineNominations
1986: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – Wetherby1988: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – 84 Charing Cross Road1998: Academy Award for Best Actress – Mrs. Brown1998: SAG Award for Best Actress – Mrs. Brown1999: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shakespeare in Love1999: SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress – Shakespeare in Love2001: Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress – Chocolat2001: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – Chocolat2001: Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress – Chocolat2001: Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama – Chocolat2002: Academy Award for Best Actress – Iris2002: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – The Shipping News2002: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Iris2002: SAG Award for Best Actress – Iris2002: SAG Award for Best Supporting Actress – The Shipping News2002: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Iris2005: British Independent Film Award for Best Actress – Mrs Henderson Presents2005: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy – Mrs Henderson Presents2006: Academy Award for Best Actress – Mrs Henderson Presents2006: BAFTA Film Award for Best Actress – Mrs Henderson Presents2006: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy – Mrs Henderson Presents2006: SAG Award for Best Actress – Mrs Henderson Presents2006: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Notes on a Scandal2007: Academy Award for Best Actress – Notes on a Scandal2007: BAFTA Film Award for Best Actress – Notes on a Scandal2007: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Drama – Notes on a Scandal2007: SAG Award for Best Actress – Notes on a Scandal2007: Saturn Award for Best Actress – Notes on a Scandal2009: Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress – Quantum of Solace2010: SAG Award for Best Cast – Nine2012: BAFTA Film Award for Best Supporting Actress – My Week with Marilyn Television 
Awards
1968: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – Talking to a Stranger1982: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – A Fine Romance, Going Gently and The Cherry Orchard1982: Broadcast Press Guild Award for Best Actress – A Fine Romance1985: BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance – A Fine Romance2001: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells2001: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells2008: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – CranfordNominations
1980: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – ITV Playhouse, Macbeth and On Giant's Shoulders1983: BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance – A Fine Romance1984: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – Saigon: Year of the Cat1984: BAFTA TV Award for Best Light Entertainment Performance – A Fine Romance1990: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – Behaving Badly1998: BAFTA TV Award for Best Comedy Performance – As Time Goes By2001: American Comedy Award for Funniest Female Performer in a TV Special – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells2001: Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells2001: SAG Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Movie – The Last of the Blonde Bombshells2008: BAFTA TV Award for Best Actress – Cranford2008: Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – Cranford2009: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – Cranford2010: Emmy Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – Return to Cranford2010: Satellite Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television movie – Return to Cranford2011: Golden Globe Award for Best Actress in a Miniseries or Television Film – Return to Cranford Theatre 
Awards
1977: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Revival of a Play – Macbeth1980: Evening Standard Award for Best Actress – Juno and the Paycock1980: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Revival of a Play – Juno and the Paycock1982: Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress – The Importance of Being Earnest and A Kind of Alaska1982: Evening Standard Award for Best Actress – The Importance of Being Earnest and A Kind of Alaska1983: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play – Pack of Lies1987: Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress – Antony and Cleopatra1987: Evening Standard Award for Best Actress – Antony and Cleopatra1987: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play – Antony and Cleopatra1996: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical – A Little Night Music1996: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play – Absolute Hell1997: Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Actress – Amy's View1999: Tony Award for Best Actress in a Play – Amy's View2004: Society of London Theatre Special Award

Nominations
1982: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a New Play – Other Places1982: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Revival of a Play – The Importance of Being Earnest1992: Olivier Award for Best Director of a Musical – The Boys from Syracuse1993: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play – The Gift of the Gorgon1998: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play – Amy's View1999: Drama Desk Award for Best Actress in a Play – Amy's View1999: Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Play – Filumena2005: Olivier Award for Best Supporting Performance – All's Well That Ends Well''

References

Other websites
 Judi Dench Biography 
 

1934 births
Living people
Academy Award winning actors
Actors from Yorkshire
Actors who played M
BAFTA Award winning actors
Companions of Honour
English movie actors
English stage actors
English television actors
English voice actors
Golden Globe Award winning actors
Knights and Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Musical theater actors
People from York
Royal Society of Arts
Tony Award winning actors