Judi Dench dismisses feud rumors with late friend Maggie Smith in new memoir: ‘Don’t be ridiculous’
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Judi Dench has opened up about her long-standing friendship with the late Maggie Smith, dismissing rumours of a feud between the two actresses.
The Hollywood veteran reflected on her bond with Smith in her new memoir, 'Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?' and also opened up about her personal loss.
This comes after Dench shared an update on her deteriorating eyesight in a recent interview, revealing that she can no longer recognize people or read.
Judi Dench addresses feud rumours with Maggie Smith
In her new memoir, Dench addressed speculation about a supposed rift between her and Smith, who died in 2024 at the age of 89. Despite rumours that the actresses had clashed over theatre hierarchy and dressing room placements while working together, Dench maintained that there was no bad blood between them and that they remained friends until Smith's death.
"I mentioned you and Maggie Smith because you occasionally hear of actors falling out over the dressing room they’ve been allocated. It’s to do with hierarchy and status,” actor and director Brendan O’Hea told Dench during a conversational chat in her book, per Page Six.
The actress, however, quickly shut down the speculation, saying, “Don’t be ridiculous.” Describing Smith as wonderful company, Dench praised her intelligence, sharp wit and beauty, particularly her red hair when she was young.
She also dismissed the speculation surrounding their alleged disagreements, questioning why people were concerned about where the actresses were placed in the theatre.
"What’s the matter with people?" Dench said. "Haven’t they got enough to worry about with the play? I never mind where I am."
Although Dench described Smith as "a very complex person" who she suspected was "quite lonely at times," she remembered her friend with affection. She said her lasting memory of the 'Harry Potter' actress was "one of unadulterated joy and laughter".
Dench also admitted that she continues to miss Smith, recalling how she sometimes instinctively reaches for the phone to call her friend before remembering that she is no longer alive. "God, I miss her," Dench wrote.
The pair first met in 1958 at the Old Vic theatre in Waterloo, London, where they began their careers as young actresses. They later appeared together in several productions, including 'A Room With a View,' 'Tea With Mussolini,' 'Ladies in Lavender' and the 2018 documentary 'Nothing Like a Dame.'
Judi Dench opens up about progressing vision loss and its impact on acting
Alongside reflecting on her friendship with Smith, Dench also shared an update on her deteriorating eyesight. More than 10 years after revealing her diagnosis of macular degeneration, a degenerative condition affecting the retina, the actress said her vision has progressed to the point where she can no longer recognize people.
Speaking during a joint ITV interview with her friend Ian McKellen, Dench explained that she could still make out people's outlines but could no longer identify their faces. The 'Casino Royale' star also revealed that she could not watch television or read.
When asked whether she could still work in theatre, Dench shook her head and responded, "Well, no." The health update comes after Dench previously discussed how her condition had affected her ability to memorize film scripts.
During a 2023 appearance on 'The Graham Norton Show,' Dench explained that she needed a machine that could teach her lines while also showing her where they appeared on the page.
"I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them," she said. However, the actress indicated that her condition had not completely affected her established memory. Dench joked that she could still recite the entirety of Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night' if required, saying, "I could do the whole of 'Twelfth Night' right now."
