Judi Dench Reflects on Grief at Cheltenham

Dame Judi Dench recently experienced an emotional moment at the Cheltenham Literature Festival when asked about the deaths of her close friends, Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt, both of whom passed away within weeks of each other. Dench was visibly shaken and at a loss for words, as she described grief as a source of energy she uses to cope with pain. Her friendship with Smith began in the 1950s at the Old Vic Theatre and included numerous collaborations such as 'A Room with a View' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel'. Barbara Leigh-Hunt, another close friend and the godmother to Dench's daughter, had also appeared with Dench in the sitcom 'As Time Goes By'. These losses have deeply affected Dench, highlighting the profound impact of grief on her life and career.