Dame Judi Dench receives Honorary Fellowship

Published: 24 February 2013
Reporter: Sandra Giorgetti

Judi Dench receives her Honorary Fellowship from Royal Central Credit: Karla Gowlett

Multi-award–winning Dame Judi Dench has received an Honorary Fellowship from The Royal Central School of Speech and Drama.

A former student of the School, and President between 1992 and 1997, Dame Judi's brother, Jeffrey, and her daughter, Finty Williams, also graduated from Central.

Making the presentation to Dame Judi, the School's current President and also a former student, Michael Grandage, said, “The way Judi builds a character and adds layers to the process is extraordinary. We are here to honour her, to show our respect, admiration and thanks.”

Afterwards Dame Judi answered questions from students offering some advice, “Don’t give up. You will have many hard days and many good days. See as much as you can to create reference in your own mind to refer to. You make the character as real as you can—that’s what our job is."

Of her time at the School, from which she graduated in 1957 with a first class degree in acting, she said, “I had a gloriously happy three years at Central. My brother attended Central and it was his excitement that inspired me to want to come to here. The training I received was absolutely phenomenal, I loved it all.”

Dame Judi is preparing for the 9 March opening of Peter and Alice, a new play by John Logan, directed by Michael Grandage.

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