Despite Judi Dench losing her eyesight, she refuses to retire and continues to celebrate every day in her 80s.
She still loves and grieves her husband of 30 years, who died at 65.
Her only grandson saved her from loneliness, and they became dance stars.
Dame Judi Dench, who was a mainstay of Hollywood for many years, has celebrated many milestones in her life. She has also faced many challenging times. Through it all, she has remained positive.
On December 9, 2022, she celebrated her 88th birthday. Her daughter posted a sweet tribute to the actress on social media to commemorate the day. The post included an unexpected guest and a cute joke to finish it.
Dame Judi Dench (R) and daughter Finty Williams attend a drinks reception at the 58th London Evening Standard Theatre Awards in association with Burberry at The Savoy Hotel on November 25, 2012 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
Finty Williams, who is Dench's daughter, posted a photo of her mother with a lemur on her shoulder and a bowl of food in her hands. The post said:
"It's this beauty's birthday today. (Ma, not the lemur.) Happy birthday to my darling Mama."
While turning 88 is something to celebrate, Dench has admitted that she suffers from macular degeneration, which causes her to be unable to read and write because she cannot see very much.
Judi Dench attends RHS Chelsea Flower Show press day at Royal Hospital Chelsea on May 22, 2017 in London, England | Source: Getty Images
However, she said there is no chance she'll be slowing down and confirmed that she hasn't even thought about retiring. She said she would simply learn new ways of doing things to continue her career.
The actress said she gets through by celebrating all the small things she can do and trying new things all the time. She said she believes in challenging oneself and tries to do so often.
Judi Still Loves Her Late Husband of 30 Years
Dench and her late husband, Michael Williams, were together for 30 years, from 1971 until 2001. They had a beautiful romance and marriage. They welcomed a daughter together and were the picture-perfect family until Williams' death.
Judi Dench and her husband, the actor, Michael Williams, 10th April 1987 | Source: Getty Images
Although her husband has been gone for over 20 years, Dench still finds grappling with his loss difficult. She admitted that she was not good at talking about his death or how he died and still shed tears over it.
She confirmed that her husband had passed away in 2001 at 65 after battling lung cancer. She talked about the loss, saying:
"Smoking, you see, all that smoking when we were young."
Dame Judi Dench with her husband, Michael Williams and daughter Finty Williams, arrive for the 72nd Annual Academy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, USA | Source: Getty Images
Dench and Williams welcomed their daughter, Finty Williams. She is now 50 years old and has her own career as an actress. She is known for her roles in "Gosford Park," "Run for Your Wife," and "The Importance of Being Earnest."
How Did Dench's Grandson Save Her?
While Dench is still very much grieving her husband, she has found comfort in spending time with her family. Her grandson, in particular, has helped her to overcome her loneliness and forces her to celebrate life.
Dench and her grandson have even become TikTok stars because he has forced her to dance on social media. Talking about her experience with the platform, she said:
"Well, it saved my life. I know nothing about TikTok. Sam is the person who is technically minded and has all the ideas. He made me do it, and I had to rehearse all his moves."
The actress said the videos saved her life because they gave her something to look forward to during the lockdown. Before they started the videos, she said she felt like every day was unchartered.
Judi Dench and Sam Williams attend the 94th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood and Highland on March 27, 2022 in Hollywood, California | Source: Getty Images
The gran and grandson duo have now moved on from TikTok videos to making vlogs on YouTube. Dench is often seen on her grandson's social media. He is the son of Dench's only daughter.
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