Quotes By Judi Dench

I work out the other bits, too, but I need to know what I look like, very early on. And then it's like a template; I'll fill that person out. If I get that out of the way, then I'm all right.

People seem to have this idea that I've always been very ambitious. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Work certainly does help fill a void.

In contrast, the control you have in a theatre is very attractive to me.

The difficulty with any sort of esteem is that more is expected of you.

I would hate people to think bossy is all I can do.

And then it was working with Bob Hoskins, who I had never worked with before - except radio. It was like being given a wonderful meal - full of the things you love most.

The more I do, the more frightened I get. But that is essential. Otherwise why would I go on doing it?

I trained as a designer, so I'm always terribly keen about what I'm going to look like.

Some things you know about, you know what the ingredients are - maybe not all of them. But it's up to you to put in the amount. It's up to the director to nag you until you get it right.

I love being part of a company, and telling a story.

I'm very conscious that I'm in the minority in that I love what I do. How big is the number of people who are running to work to do a job that they like? And how lucky to be employed at it - how incredibly lucky.

I've got what my ma had, macular degeneration, which you get when you get old.

In the theatre you can change things ever so slightly; it's an organic thing. Whereas in film you only have that chance on the day, and you have no control over it at all.

Since Michael died I think I've worked constantly. Friends and colleagues are very sustaining. They're the people who get you through it... It's no good to be on your own.

Anything that we can do to improve the lives of elderly people is welcome so far as I am concerned.

Seriously, though, I think I never ceased to be grateful of the fact that I am able to do a job that I really love - I never got over that.

Actually, what I miss are people corpsing on stage.

I have no control over a film. I don't know what will be left on the cutting floor.

My husband was actually very keen that I would become a Bond girl.

I wanted to be a set designer when I was young.

People think you know beforehand when you win an Oscar - I can assure you you don't.

I can't read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes.

Frankly, I never had any intense desire to go to India. I know that sounds a bit strange, but it just never was someplace I had a burning desire to visit.

The theater is the thing I love doing most.

It's incredibly moving to hear some of our greatest actors performing Shakespeare.

I was in Yorkshire. We were a family of five and I used to be sent sometimes to get the rations for the week and I was easily able to carry them back. It was like one egg and a tiny bit of tea.

I don't really want to retire. I intend to go on working as long as I can because I still have a huge amount of energy.

I've figured out what to do so far, but it's always the next thing you come to where the man with the bucket of ice cold water is waiting - whoosh! in your face. That's why you work with directors who know what to tell you to do.

I don't think anybody can be told how to act. I think you can give advice. But you have to find your own way through it.