The actress who, in Goldeneye, stepped into the shoes originally occupied by Bernard Lee, was born on 9th December 1934 in Yorkshire.
Judi Dench made her name on the stage with the Old Vic with Shakespeare, later with the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. However, after some television work to her name and supporting roles in films such as A Room With A View, it was as M in Goldeneye that her film career really took off.
Dench continued as M throughout the Pierce Brosnan era and remained in the role for Casino Royale, despite the fact that the film saw the franchise rebooted. She was eventually killed off in Daniel Craig’s third Bond film, Skyfall, when Ralph Fiennes took over as Bond’s boss.
Awarded the OBE in 1970, she became a Dame in 1988 for services to the performing arts and in 2005 she was appointed a Companion of Honour.