Judi Dench: Celebrated Actress And Devoted Mother

Judi Dench has won countless awards for her performances in hit films like Shakespeare in Love, Iris, and Mrs. Brown, but her role as a mother is one that should not be overlooked. The iconic British actress is the proud parent of her only daughter, Finty Williams. Judi shares her beloved child with her ex-husband, Michael Williams. The former pair tied the knot in 1971 and welcomed their daughter the following year in September. Sadly, the Hollywood couple split three decades later in 2001.

When the Hamlet star became a mother, she was willing to make whatever sacrifices she needed for her little girl. That included taking a step back from her Hollywood career, which is something Judi said she wishes she could have done. “I wanted to give it up because I wanted to be a proper mother and be around,” the Cats actress told Express in 2015. However, Judi’s ex-husband wasn’t too fond of his then-wife’s idea. “Michael said, ‘No please don’t do that,’” she recalled.

Instead, Judi juggled her life as a new mom while pursuing her career as an actress. Because she and Michael both spent so much time performing in plays, the Philomena actress joked they used to refer to Shakespeare as the “man who pays the rent” of the “tiny” apartment in which they raised Finty. Since then, Judi has skyrocketed to fame and superstardom — having appeared in award-winning movies, including Skyfall, Casino Royale, Murder on the Orient Express, and several others. Judi’s daughter, Finty, has also followed in her mom’s famous footsteps.

However, the Victoria and Abdul actress expressed mixed feelings about Finty’s Hollywood career. Because she always worried about the negative things people would say about her red-haired beauty, Judi said Finty’s decision to become a performer was an “absolute nightmare.” “I think that people, you know, compare and say things,” she explained to Express. “I don’t think it’s kind when people do that at all. I think it makes it very, very difficult, and nor do I think there’s a necessity for it.” Fortunately, Finty is just as successful as her famous mama. Not only is she an actress, but she’s also a mother of her own!

Keep scrolling to learn more about Finty.

Biography of Judi Dench

Table of Contents

• Biography of Judi Dench
• Judi's Career Journey
• Life as a Mother
• Finty Williams: The Next Generation
• Judi's Reflections on Motherhood
• Final Thoughts