Dench ‘loathes’ being referred to as treasure
Dame Judi Dench has said she “loathes” being referred to as a “national treasure” because she does not want to be a “relic”.
The 85- year-old veteran actress said she would like to play more villains so she can continue to surprise people.
Speaking to David Tennant on his podcast, he asked if she felt pressure to be a national treasure. She replied :“No, no, no. I loathe that word. It’s something very, very dusty, behind a glass, in a corner. “I don’t want to be a relic.” Dame Judi said she had not played enough villainous parts, saying :“I hate to play parts that are expected ... I want to play somebody who you think is a benign old lady sitting in a chair, and in actual fact is bumping people off. I’m looking for a lot of villains to play.”
Dame Judi also addressed the death of her husband Michael Williams in 2001, after a long illness.
Asked how long it took to work out how to be without him, she said: “I suspect I shall never, ever get over Mikey.”