Dame Judi Dench Reveals Secret Plan to Get Tattoo on 81st Birthday

Dame Judi Dench, who is best known for her role as M in the later James Bond films, announced this week she may be getting a tattoo to celebrate her next birthday.

In a conversation about age, modern linguistics, and her love life the 80-year-old English actress indicated that she’s partial to Indian heritage, which could inspire some ink.

“My daughter Finty is very keen on me having one. There’s an Indian symbol that I like which supposedly represents life and love and everything. A cameraman who worked on The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel told me what it meant, but I’m a bit nervous in case I’m being set up… it might be unbelievably rude.”

This reportedly marks the second time Dench has entertained the idea of a tattoo, the first being when she had film producer Harvey Weinstein’s name temporarily stenciled on her buttocks.

“He still thinks it’s tattooed. My make-up lady painted it on. He didn’t believe me so I showed him,” she explained.

Dench also revealed details of her last birthday, her 80th, which she spent with her long-term companion David Mills.

“I didn’t want a fuss, just the people I love. The words ‘old’ and ‘retire’ are banned at my house,” said Dench.

Regardless of her age, the actress has grasped the language teenagers use to communicate with their friends.

“My grandson sent a text that said ‘see u l8r.’ I had to text him back to ask what it meant. Another one is ‘YOLO,’ which means you only live once. I love that I know that,” she gushed.

The upcoming Bond film, Spectre, will be absent the character she portrayed in a total of seven films.
She spoke to Metro in Dec. of last year of the character’s demise:

“They told me gently and I laughed through my tears,” she recalled. “Seven Bond films is a long time. But MI6 would have given her the push by now, don’t you think?”