Judi Dench studied at the Central School of Speech and Drama. Judi performed with Royal Shakespeare Company, the National Theatre, and at Old Vic Theatre.

Judi Dench was awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1970, and was created Dame of the British Empire in 1988.

In 1997, Dench played Queen Victoria in HER MAJESTY, MRS. BROWN, the story of the widowed figure head's romantic liaison with a member of her household.  Judi Dench was nominated for an Academy Award for her performance. 

In the same year, in a fantastic casting manoeuver, she played "M," James Bond's boss in TOMORROW NEVER DIES.  Her character, when accused of not having the balls for the job, quipped, "That may be, but the advantage is I don't have to think with them."  Dench reprised her role in the 2006, CASINO ROYALE and the 2008 QUANTUM OF SOLACE James Bond movies.

The next year, in 1998, Judi Dench played a cameo as Queen Elizabeth in SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE, who arrives at the theater, just in time to absolve Gwyneth Paltrow's character of any wrong doing, in going upon the stage as a female in a female part [then forbidden by English Law].  Her portrayal won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. 

Dench played a grumpy grandma who is ultimately won over to the magic of chocolate in the 2000 film CHOCOLAT and was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Award.  In the 2001 drama, IRIS, Judi Densch played real life novelist Irish Murdoch and was again nominated for an Academy Award. 

In 2005, Judi Dench played the title role in MRS. HENDERSON, the story of a London theater owner, who presents nude reviews.  This performance was also nominated for a Best Actress Oscar. Her latest nomination from the Academy was for her portrayal of the Barbara Covett in NOTES ON A SCANDAL, whose sexual jealously over the affair of one of her fellow, married teachers, played by Cate Blanchette, with a student fuels the complicated relationship between the women.

On the role of critics in her acting methods, Judi Densh said, "Once, a long time ago, I read some bad reviews and I made the decision not to read the reviews. You get some critics who don't like you, or the play. But they don't have to do it every night. I don't want to be affected like that."

Judi's other film credits include: