Dame Judi Dench: 9 rarely seen photos reveal her life in York before Hollywood
October 1985 - Judi Dench meets the Dean of York, the Very Rev John Southgate, outside York Minster. Photo by York Press
EXCLUSIVE: 9 rare photos of Dame Judi Dench in York before Hollywood
Report by MAXINE GORDON Photos by York Press photographers
DAME Judi Dench may be known the world over as a Hollywood superstar, but in her home city of York, she is remembered fondly as 'our Judi from Heworth'.
The award-winning actor has written about her life in a new book, her memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, published today.
Born Judith Olivia Dench on December 9, 1934, Judi grew up in Heworth with her parents, Eleanora and Reginald Arthur Dench, and brothers Peter and Jeffery.
She attended The Mount School and cut her acting teeth in amateur dramatics by taking part in the York Mystery Plays.
She starred in three separate cycles of York's famous Mystery Plays: in 1951 and 1954 as an Angel then in 1957she played the role of the Virgin Mary.
The young Judi Dench, in the role of the Virgin Mary, watches over the baby Jesus in the 1957 Mystery Plays. Image: Newsquest (Image: NQ)
In a national newspaper interview, Judi spoke about this time. She said her first taste of acting was when the family became involved in the Mystery Plays. "The first couple of years we played angels and citizens; Mummy was the wardrobe mistress. And then Daddy was Joseph the year I played Mary. We had huge fun."
She also commented on her "idyllic childhood" in York in 1940s and 1950s: "We had a very Swallows and Amazons childhood. We rode bikes and roller-skated, and I was always dressing up. We'd play in other people's gardens and rig up phones with soup tins. And Mummy would play the piano and we would sing."
Today, we are sharing rarely seen photos of Dame Judi taken over the years during her many visits to her home city.
The photos date from the late 1960s – and were taken by York Press photographers.
They date from a time when the actor was best known for her film and theatre work and before she became an Oscar winner and Hollywood star.
Whether preparing for a play at York Theatre Royal; performing a reading at York Minster, or visiting her old school, The Mount, they show how Judi never forgot her York links despite her rising fame. On several visits, she was fundraising for local good causes.
Here is our collection of rarely seen Judi Dench photos during visits to York taken by York Press photographers:
June 1968 - Visiting Bootham School
June 1968 - Judi Dench arrives at Bootham School in York for a poetry recital.
Judi Dench arrived at Bootham School in York for a poetry recital. The actress only made the appearance in time because her train from London had been held up for half an hour at Doncaster (some things never change!). "I was getting a bit panicky," she told a Press reporter at the time. "I only had time for a small snack lunch and then came straight to the school." The star, who was at that time appearing on stage in the West End in Cabaret, was in York to give two charity recitals: one in aid of Shelter and the other for the Minster Appeal Fund.
April 1973 - Meeting York teenager and young actress
April 1973 - Judi Dench meets Andrea Pugsley in York, who is following in the famous actress's footsteps. York Press photo
Judi Dench met Andrea Pugsley, who was following in the famous actress's footsteps firstly as a pupil at The Mount school and because she was playing the Virgin Mary in the York Mystery Play, as Judi did in 1957.
June 1973 - Celebrity performance at York Guildhall
June 1973 - Judi Dench was back in York for a special event at York's historic Guildhall with fellow actors Geraldine McEwan, centre, and Jane Wenham
Judi Dench was back in York, this time for a special event at York's historic Guildhall. In our Press archive photo, she is pictured with fellow actors Geraldine McEwan, centre, and Jane Wenham in rehearsal before the poetry event, A Tender Muse, featuring work by female poets, devised by well-known theatre director Richard Digby Day.
July 1983 - University of York honour
July 1983 - Judi Dench with her daughter Finty as she received an honarary doctorate from the University of York. Photo - York Press
Judi Dench with her daughter Finty as she received an honorary doctorate from the University of York.
October 1985 - Minster visit
October 1985 - Judi Dench meets the Dean of York, the Very Rev John Southgate, outside York Minster. Photo by York Press
Judi Dench met the Dean of York, the Very Rev John Southgate, outside York Minster.
December 1985 - Minster reading
December 1985 - Judi Dench gives a reading during a special service at York Minster. Photo - York Press
Judi Dench gave a reading during a special service at York Minster
Recommended reading:
- Dame Judi Dench: from York schoolgirl to Hollywood star
- Who deserves a statue in York? Readers pick their choices
- Rare memento of Judi Dench's days in York Mystery Plays
- Dame Judi Dench addresses questions on when she'll retireDecember 1987 - Fundraising in the city
December 1987 - Judi Dench and her husband and fellow actor Michael Williams do a reading at York Minster
Judi Dench and her husband and fellow actor Michael Williams did a reading at York Minster. The couple returned to York to join the Minster Choir in a programme of Christmas words and music. The couple led the readings which were in aid of York Minster School.
March 1988 - Back at school!
March 1988 - TV camera crew film Judi Dench in the library of Mount School where she attended as a pupil. Photo by York Press
A TV camera crew film Judi Dench in the library of The Mount School where she attended as a pupil. Dame Judi has made several more visits to her old school over the years.
December 1988 - Supporting wildlife
December 1988 - Judi Dench at York's Merchant Adventurers Hall for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's celebrity dinner. Photo - York Press
Judi Dench at York's Merchant Adventurers Hall for the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust's celebrity dinner. Judi was just one of several well known faces at the event; others included TV presenter Richard Whiteley and Bill Owen of Last of the Summer Wine. Both Judi and Bill were trust members. Judi was photographed with Michael Clegg, TV personality and naturalist.
Dame Judi Dench's memoir,Is It Too Late to Make a Run for it? is published today by Penguin
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Do you have memories of Judi Dench in York? Share your memories and photos with Maxine Gordon: email -**maxine.gordon@thepress.co.uk