Dame Judi Dench explains her ‘ageing’ empathy with Queen Victoria
Dame Judi Dench has said she could empathise with the struggles of ageing faced by her character in her latest film.
The 82-year-old star takes the lead as Queen Victoria in Stephen Frears’ latest work, Victoria And Abdul.
Dame Judi was joined by her co-stars at the premiere of the film in London’s Leicester Square.
She told the Press Association: “She met somebody with whom she could be completely relaxed with, no formality about it at all.
“She could learn from him and she learnt about the Koran, she learned Urdu from him and she learned to write it.
(left to right) Director Stephen Frears, Dame Judi Dench, Ali Fazal and Eddie Izzard arriving at the UK premiere of Victoria & Abdul
“You know it was a kind of wonderful stimulus at a time when all her friends were dying.
“You know, I understand that at 80. At 83, all your friends start to die.”
The film tells the true story of the unlikely friendship between Queen Victoria and her Indian attendant Abdul Karim.
Dame Judi Dench arrives at the UK premiere of Victoria & Abdul
Karim is played by Ali Fazal, who was also among the stars walking the red carpet at the premiere.
Also in attendance was Eddie Izzard, who plays Prince Edward VII.
The cast also includes Olivia Williams as Baroness Churchill, Michael Gambon as Lord Salisbury, and the late Tim Pigott-Smith as Sir Henry Ponsonby.
Victoria And Abdul will officially open in UK cinemas on September 15.
The Press Association
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