- Dame Judi Dench has dismissed long-standing rumours of a dressing room feud with her late friend Dame Maggie Smith as "ridiculous".
- Writing in her new memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, Dench clarified that Smith chose a smaller room during their 2002 play The Breath of Life simply to avoid climbing stairs.
- Dench noted that while Smith preferred quiet reading backstage and she preferred a busy room, she has never cared about dressing room hierarchy or status.
- The legendary actresses first met at London's Old Vic in 1958 and built a lifelong friendship alongside collaborations in films such as A Room with a View.
- Reflecting on Smith's death in September 2024, Dench paid emotional tribute to her long-time friend, remembering her sharp wit, intelligence, and marvellous company.
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