M (Judi Dench)

Datastream Character: M Movie: Casino Royale Status: Active Actor: Judi Dench Date of Birth: 9/12/1934 Height: 5’ 3.5” (1.82m) Place of Birth: Yorkshire, England Profile Judi Dench plays M, the head of the British secret service, MI6. She runs the service with an iron fist and puts up with no insubordination or slack work from any of her operatives. She supports Bond even after he is compromised on an early mission, taking flack from politicians who only care what MI6 does when they make mistakes. In the Casino Royale mission, M is reluctant to assign fledgling 007 to such a critical assignment, yet recognises his talent as a gambler and potential as a ruthless killer. Her real name is almost revealed by 007 when he breaks in to her London penthouse.

"I give him Double-O status and he celebrates it by shooting up an embassy!"

Biography
Graduate of Mount school in York and the Central School for Speech and Drama, Dench is a five-time BAFTA winner and worldwide star. A veteran of the Bond franchise as well as the theatre and screen – Casino Royale marks the Judi Dench’s fifth appearance in a Bond picture, after her 007-debut in 1995’s "Goldeneye".

As well as the BAFTAs, Dench has also been rewarded with an Academy Award for her role in "Shakespeare in Love", in which she portrayed Queen Elizabeth I. Widely regarded as one of the finest actors of stage and screen in anyone’s lifetime – Dench became a Dame of the British Empire in 1988.

Dame Judi's more recent roles include: "Mrs. Brown", "Chocolat", "Iris", "The Shipping News", "Therese Raquin", "The Importance of Being Earnest" and most recently she took the lead in "Mrs Henderson Presents", for which she received another Academy Award nomination.

Dame Judi was married to the actor Michel Williams (whom she acted opposite on numerous occasions) for 30 years until his death in 2001.

Quotes
"They're getting me out of my box. It's a whole film there." - Judi Dench on taking 'M' to the Bahamas.

"I have met him and I liked him enormously. We had a laugh and that always bodes well," - Judi Dench on acting with Daniel Craig.