Judi Dench says she was determined not to let on the secret of her being killed in Skyfall to family and friends
Highlights
- Veteran actress Judi Dench was devastated when she was told Skyfall would be her last James Bond film, but she put on a brave face for her family and friends to keep the plot twist secret.
- The 78-year-old actress played spy chief M in six 007 blockbusters before her character was killed off in her seventh film, last year's Skyfall, and Dench says she was completely blindsided when producers told her the bad news, reported Daily Star.
- She was informed of M's demise in a meeting with producer Barbara Broccoli and co-star Daniel Craig, but couldn't let anyone know how upset she was as Bond bosses were determined stop the storyline leaking before the film hit cinemas.
- "I knew about it for quite a while before (the shoot). I went and saw Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig, which I thought was a nice chance meeting to have a cup of coffee, but it was straight in my face," Dench said TV host Graham Norton. "It wasn't broken to me gently. I put a very brave face on it and didn't tell anyone at all. People would ask, 'How's it going?' and I'd say, 'Fine' and then, 'Are you enjoying filming?' and I'd say, 'It's fine,' and, 'Do you get out from behind the desk, and I'd say, 'Yep.' It was quite hard, but it was worth keeping the secret," she added.
- Dench also said the cast and crew marked her exit from the franchise by giving her a surprise. "There was a big cake. I don't remember what it said on it."
Veteran actress Judi Dench wasdevastated when she was told
Skyfall would be her last JamesBond film, but she put on a brave face for her family andfriends to keep the plot twist secret.
The 78-year-old actress played spy chief M in six 007blockbusters before her character was killed off in herseventh film, last year's
Skyfall, and Dench says she wascompletely blindsided when producers told her the bad news,reported Daily Star.
She was informed of M's demise in a meeting with producerBarbara Broccoli and co-star Daniel Craig, but couldn't letanyone know how upset she was as Bond bosses were determinedstop the storyline leaking before the film hit cinemas.
"I knew about it for quite a while before (the shoot). Iwent and saw Barbara Broccoli and Daniel Craig, which Ithought was a nice chance meeting to have a cup of coffee, butit was straight in my face," Dench said TV host Graham Norton."It wasn't broken to me gently. I put a very brave face onit and didn't tell anyone at all. People would ask, 'How's itgoing?' and I'd say, 'Fine' and then, 'Are you enjoyingfilming?' and I'd say, 'It's fine,' and, 'Do you get out frombehind the desk, and I'd say, 'Yep.' It was quite hard, but itwas worth keeping the secret," she added.
Dench also said the cast and crew marked her exit from thefranchise by giving her a surprise."There was a big cake. I don't remember what it said onit."