During her presentation at the Cheltenham Literature Festival, Dame Judi Dench became emotional when interviewer Brendan O’Hea brought up her recently deceased friends, Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt. Dench, known for her personal anecdotes, choked up on stage as she shared memories of her late friends. O’Hea delicately broached the subject by acknowledging the challenging week Dench had experienced due to the loss of her great friends. He also asked her about a previous statement she made regarding grief, referencing her comparison of grief to petrol when discussing her late husband, Michael Williams, who passed away from lung cancer in 2001. As the conversation turned to this emotional topic, Dench expressed her thoughts on the energy created by grief before breaking down in tears.
Last week, there was sad news of the passing of Dame Maggie Smith at the age of 89, who was a close friend of actress Judi Dench. The news of her death led to an outpouring of grief from fellow actors and Harry Potter fans worldwide. Tributes to the “true legend of her generation” poured in, with Huge Bonneville leading the way. Dame Maggie Smith was beloved for her iconic roles in the Harry Potter movies as well as her remarkable 70-year acting career. Her friendship with Judi Dench dated back to the 1950s.
Their close friendship blossomed when they were both aspiring young actresses, having first crossed paths backstage at the prestigious Old Vic theatre in London. Reflecting on their bond at a tribute event honoring Judi Dench in 2002, Maggie Smith fondly reminisced, “What stands out the most from that time is the birth of a beautiful friendship, and I recall laughter above all else. Judi has been an incredible friend. Her unwavering support and loyalty have meant the world to me.” The duo graced both stage and screen together on multiple occasions, with notable collaborations including the 1985 film “A Room with a View” and the 2011 comedy “The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.”
Ol Parker, the writer of The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, shared that Maggie Smith and Judi Dench’s friendship included swimming in Victorian swimsuits and lots of laughter. The two actresses also appeared in the 2018 Netflix documentary ‘Nothing Like a Dame’ alongside Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright. Additionally, Barbara Leigh-Hunt, a close friend of Dench, recently passed away at the age of 88. Dench, known for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s film Frenzy, was also friends with Leigh-Hunt and served as the godmother to her daughter, Finty Williams. Dench mentioned at a festival that she plants trees in her Surrey home in memory of her late friends.