People News

Judi Dench had energy after husband's death

Feb 6, 2012, 18:36 GMT

Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench had an 'extraordinary energy' after her husband died.

The 77-year-old Hollywood actress - whose late husband Michael Williams died 11 years ago - found it helpful to grieve by doing one job after another in a short space of time, but she admits her busy working schedule nearly gave her agent a fit.

She told Stella magazine: 'I had this extraordinary energy after Michael died. I went off to Nova Scotia and did six weeks on 'The Shipping News'. Then I came home and two days later I started 'Iris'. Then I did some more work on 'The Shipping News'. And two days after I started 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.

'My poor agent nearly had a fit because I was cutting things so fine. But I found working at that pace and doing those kinds of parts helped me. Whereas playing a grief-stricken widow would have been no help at all.'

Despite steering clear of playing the role of a widow since Michael died, Judi is set to portray a woman whose husband has just died in her latest film 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', which gave her doubts about starring in the movie.

She added: 'It wasn't just an emotional decision. There were professional reasons, too. I think if I'd played a grief-stricken widow too soon after Michael died I might have over-egged the part. Or at least I don't think my judgment would have been that good.'