by Nathaniel R
Judi Dench in her newest Red Joan (2019) and in her very first Four in the Morning (1965)
With Red Joan just opened in limited release wherein Judi Dench is accused of being the KGB's longest serving British spy and flashes back to the drama of her college years, let us all flash back to Judi's early years... well, all of her years rather. We gave Dame Judi Dench an unsatisfying episode of Posterized six years ago but it's time for the real deal...
Dame Judi Dench started her professional career on the stage as Ophelia in a production of Hamlet at the Royal Court Theatre in 1957. She was 23 years old. Two years later she landed her first television gig (title character) in a show called Hilda Lessways (1959). Then came her first feature Four in the Morning (1965), another leading role. She's never stopped working since racking up over 120+ credits on screens big and small, with roles from gargantuan to cameos, all while never quitting the stage. She still jumps between all three actors mediums on the regular at 84 years of age. I first remember seeing her in A Room With a View, released in 1986, as "Eleanor Lavish, a novelist".
the dream Dame team, Dench & Smith in the stone cold classic A ROOM WITH A VIEW
Observe my foresight, I never venture forth without my mackintosh squares.
Despite the length of her career, Judi Dench didn't become a "movie star" in the traditional sense until her 40th year in showbiz in her sixtysomething years (imagine that -- late bloomer!) when the juicy starring role of Mrs Brown netted her both a Golden Globe and her seventh (!) BAFTA.
How many of her movies have you seen and when did you first fall for her?
We've included only the largest or most crucial movies (dropping out most of her cameos) and let her first & last appearances in James Bond films stand in for her many appearances or this list of 33 films would be much much longer!
Act One - Rising British Wonder
FOUR IN THE MORNING (1965) - BAFTA "Most Promising Newcomer"
HE WHO RIDES A TIGER (1965)
A MIDSUMMER NIGHT'S DREAM (1968) she played Titania queen of the fairies
DEAD CERT (1974)
SAIGON -YEAR OF THE CAT (1983) -BAFTA Nominee Actress
WETHERBY (1985) -BAFTA Nominee Supporting Actress
A ROOM WITH A VIEW (1985/1986) - BAFTA Winner Supporting Actress. This was her first of five feature films with her bestie Dame Maggie Smith.
84 CHARING CROSS ROAD (1987) -BAFTA Nominee Supporting Actress
A HANDFUL OF DUST (1988) - BAFTA Winner Supporting Actress
Act Two - International Ascendance: Leading Lady, A-Lister
GOLDENEYE (1995) - her first of
MRS BROWN (1997) -BAFTA & Globe Winner Best Actress, Oscar & SAG Nominee
SHAKESPEARE IN LOVE (1998) -BAFTA & Oscar & NSFC Winner Best Supporting Actress, Globe & SAG Nominee
TEA WITH MUSSOLINI (1999)
THE LAST OF THE BLONDE BOMBSHELLS (2000) - Globe Winner Best Actress TV Movie, Emmy & SAG Nominee
CHOCOLAT (2000) - SAG Winner Best Supporting Actress, Oscar & Globe & BAFTA Nominee
IRIS (2001) - BAFTA Winner Best Actress, Globe & Oscar & SAG Nominee
THE SHIPPING NEWS (2001) - BAFTA & SAG Nominee Best Supporting Actress
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST (2002)
LADIES IN LAVENDER (2004)
MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS (2005) -Oscar & Globe & BAFTA & SAG Nominee Best Actress
NOTES ON A SCANDAL (2006) -Oscar & Globes & BAFTA & SAG Nominee Best Actress
Act Three - Beloved Elderly Icon. Leading Roles + Plentiful "...and Judi Dench" Bits
NINE (2009)
MY WEEK WITH MARILYN (2011) -BAFTA Nominee Best Supporting Actress
JANE EYRE (2011)
J EDGAR (2011)
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2011)
SKYFALL (2012) -BAFTA Nominee Best Supporting Actress
PHILOMENA (2014) -Oscar & Globe & BAFTA & SAG Nominee Best Actress
THE BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL (2015)
VICTORIA & ABDUL (2017) -Globe & SAG Nominee Best Actress
MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS (2017)
ALL IS TRUE (2018)
RED JOAN (2019)