Judi Dench Quotes

I'm very conscious that I'm in the minority in that I love what I do. How big is the number of people who are running to work to do a job that they like? And how lucky to be employed at it - how incredibly lucky.

I'd rather do a part because I want to, not because great things are expected of me.

I would like to work with Jack Nicholson, before it's too late.

I would hate people to think bossy is all I can do.

I work out the other bits, too, but I need to know what I look like, very early on. And then it's like a template; I'll fill that person out. If I get that out of the way, then I'm all right.

I was in Yorkshire. We were a family of five and I used to be sent sometimes to get the rations for the week and I was easily able to carry them back. It was like one egg and a tiny bit of tea.

I wanted to be a set designer when I was young.

I trained as a designer, so I'm always terribly keen about what I'm going to look like.

I think you've got to have your feet planted firmly on the ground, especially in this business, and you must not believe things that are said or written about you, because everything gets out of proportion one way or the other.

I need to learn every day.

I love being part of a company, and telling a story.

I just feel incredibly lucky to be employed when there are so many actors and actresses who are not employed. That's why, you know, I sometimes feel desperate, in case I'm not going to be cast again.

I have no control over a film. I don't know what will be left on the cutting floor.

I don't think that care homes are all rotten old places that ought to be shut down.

I don't think anybody can be told how to act. I think you can give advice. But you have to find your own way through it.

I don't really want to retire. I intend to go on working as long as I can because I still have a huge amount of energy.

I can't read scripts any more because of the trouble with my eyes.

I am so thrilled to be nominated for something I loved working on every single day.

Frankly, I never had any intense desire to go to India. I know that sounds a bit strange, but it just never was someplace I had a burning desire to visit.

Because, you know, I can't work a bicycle pump.

And then it was working with Bob Hoskins, who I had never worked with before - except radio. It was like being given a wonderful meal - full of the things you love most.

Actually, what I miss are people corpsing on stage.

I think you should take your job seriously, but not yourself - that is the best combination.

Anything that we can do to improve the lives of elderly people is welcome so far as I am concerned.

The more I do, the more frightened I get. But that is essential. Otherwise why would I go on doing it?