Dame Judi Dench is widely considered one of the greatest actresses in history in Britain, primarily through her work in theatre. Throughout her decade-spanning career, Dench has played a handful of Shakespearean roles including Ophelia in Hamlet, Katherine in Henry V, Isabella in Measure for Measure, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth. In 1968, she earned rave reviews for her performance as the English cabaret performer in the musical Cabaret.
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| At a coffee bar in London, 1957. (Bob Haswell) |
Since her theatre debut in 1957 and film debut in 1964, Dench has won an Academy Award, a Tony Award, four television and six film BAFTA Awards, two Golden Globe Awards, and seven Olivier Awards.
Below are 19 beautiful photographs of the dame when she was young from the 1950s to 1970s:
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| 1957. Photo by Dobson |
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| In her dressing room during dress rehearsals for 'Hamlet' at the Old Vic theatre, London, 1957. (Bob Haswell) |
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| As Ophelia at a dress rehearsal of 'Hamlet' at the Old Vic, London, 1957. (Bob Haswell) |
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| As Ophelia at a dress rehearsal of 'Hamlet' at the Old Vic, London, 1957. (Jimmy Sime) |
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| At London Airport with John Neville on their return by BEA charter liner from Yugoslavia, 1959. (PA) |
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| At a dress rehearsal for a production of 'Richard II' with Alec McCowen at the Old Vic, London, 1960. (Central Press) |
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| Holding a script of 'Henry V,' 1960. (Jones) |
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| In costume as Titania for a stage production of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 1962. (Express) |
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| In her dressing room after the successful first night of the musical 'Cabaret,' Palace Theatre, London, 1965. (Bentley Archive) |
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| 1967. (Mirrorpix) |
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| Posing with Eric Porter with their BAFTA Television Awards for Best actress and actor, 1967. (Norman Potter) |
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| As Sally Bowles in a photocall for Harold Prince's production of 'Cabaret' at the Palace Theatre, London, 1968. (Fred Mott) |
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| Enjoying a drink in celebration of her 50th appearance in the musical 'Cabaret,' Palace Theatre, London, 1968. (Bentley Archive) |
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| With Ian Richardson during the filming of 'A Midsummer Night's Dream', 1968. (David Farrell) |
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| As Hermione in Shakespeare's 'A Winters Tale' at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, Stratford-upon-Avon, 1969. (Williams) |
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| In the RSC production of 'The Winter's Tale' with David Bailie, Aldwych Theatre, London, 1970. (Evening Standard) |
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| Posing for a photo with husband Michael Williams on their wedding day at St. Mary's church, Holly Place, Hampstead, 1971. (PA) |
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| 1971. (Radio Times) |
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| Doing her makeup in front of a mirror, 1975. (Harry Dempster) |