Judi Dench rejects 'national treasure' label at 91

Summarised from 2 outlets · Updated 11 Oct, 04:24 · Archive

Judi Dench says she 'loathes' being called a 'national treasure', comparing it to being 'stuffed away in the back of the cupboard'.

Judi Dench has rejected being called a 'national treasure', telling The Times the label makes her sound like 'a dusty old relic that's been stuffed away in the back of the cupboard, along with some dinosaur fossils and a broken Roman shield'. The 91-year-old British acting icon said she dislikes the description and insists she is not retiring.

Dench's career has spanned seven decades since her 1957 debut with the Old Vic Company. She has won an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, six British Academy Film Awards and seven Olivier Awards. Her best-known roles include appearances in the James Bond films, Shakespeare In Love, Mrs Brown, Philomena, Belfast, A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By, as well as Shakespeare productions and Cabaret.

Early in her career, Dench recalled being told by a Hollywood film producer that she would 'never make a movie because you have every single thing wrong with your face'. She said the experience actually freed her to focus on theatre work. Dench has also spoken of her desire to continue working after being diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012.

How it is being reported

• Judi Dench 'loathes' being called a 'national treasure'British acting icon Judi Dench isn't happy to rest on her laurels, insisting she isn't retiring and revealing she "loathes" being called a "national treasure".The West Australian · 11 Oct, 04:14
• Judi Dench 'loathes' being called a 'national treasure'British acting icon Judi Dench isn't happy to rest on her laurels, insisting she isn't retiring and revealing she "loathes" being called a "national treasure".Perth Now · 11 Oct, 04:14

In this story: Judi Dench · Old Vic Company · The Times · Britain · Hollywood

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