A distinguished and much-heralded actress — widely recognized as one of Great Britain’s greatest living performers — Dame Judi Dench spent much of her career concentrating on stage and television in her native England rather pursuing big screen roles. It was when she hit her fifties that she began to find rich and rewarding movie roles that allowed international audiences the chance to marvel at her gifts. Petite, blonde and husky-voiced, she has proven equally adept at everything from Shakespeare and the classics to musical comedy to contemporary drama. Devotees of British sitcoms will recognize her from her starring turns in “A Fine Romance” (1981-84), opposite her late husband Michael Williams, and “As Time Goes By” (1992-98, 2000- ) with Geoffrey Palmer.
