Oscar-winning actress Judi Dench has received the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award in recognition of her outstanding contribution to the world of film and television at a special ceremony at the Shelbourne Hotel in Dublin.
She's graced the screens for 6 decades-capturing hearts in Philomena, provoking minds in Belfast, and engaging in espionage along with James Bond.
Judi Dench’s career has been wide and varied.
As an Oscar winner she’s used to accolades. Tonight, at an event in Dublin, she picked up another one – the Lifetime Achievement Award from the Irish Film and Television Academy.
"It’s a wonderful thing to be awarded anything,’ she said. "But, and I’m absolutely genuinely truthful about this, it is unbelievably special to be given this particular award. All my relations are here, my family is from Dublin and so it’s a glorious and personal thing for me to have this award, and I’m absolutely thrilled."
Judi Dench is a British Dame, but tonight her Irish connections were being highlighted. Her parents met while studying at Trinity College.
She recalled when she was 12 while living in York in England: "My father and mother said to me 'We’re going on Friday to see a film called Night Boat to Dublin' and I was terribly excited.
"But in actual fact, it wasn’t a film at all. We went on a night boat to Dun Laoghaire. And I have such a memory of dawn, and coming in and seeing the Sugar Loaf and the Wicklow mountains, and them crying."
Others who had gathered tonight for the event all agreed that the award was very much deserved.
Fionnula Flanagan, said: "Judi Dench is a wonderful, wonderful artist and it’s just right that she should be awarded the IFTA Lifetime Achievement Award."
Liam Cunningham echoed that view: "She’s incredibly generous. She’s a decent human being and there’s not one person on the planet who’s got a bad word to say about her. The woman is a goddess."
"I think we all adore Judi Dench quite simply because she’s an incredible actress," said Aine Moriarty, IFTA Chief Executive.
"She’s always had a huge affinity to Ireland and she’s always been really great with us within the Academy. She’s worked with lots of Academy actors."
Asked about the longevity of her career, Judi Dench said she didn’t know what the secret is.
"I think don’t expect it. It’s better if you don’t expect it and then you’re very lucky if something wonderful happens."
All images: Peter Houlihan
