Dame Judi Dench has spoken about the loss of her husband of almost 30 years, actor Michael Williams, who died from lung cancer in 2001. In an interview with The Times in 2014, the actress said that before meeting her now-boyfriend, conservationist David Mills, the idea of finding love again had "never even for a second occurred to me, not for a single second."
A gradual romance through a shared love of animals
It was not until 2010, when David convinced her to open the red squirrel enclosure at his wildlife centre, that she embraced the idea of another relationship. "I wasn't even prepared to be ready for it," Judi told the publication, noting that they had bonded over their shared love of animals.
"It was very, very gradual and grown up. We got together, in a way, through the animals. It's just wonderful," she said.
Grief changes but never lessens
Reflecting on her evolving journey with grief, the Skyfall star admitted, "It becomes different. It alters. It doesn't become any less." She recalled opening a drawer recently and finding a photograph of Michael on the floor, saying, "I was able to go, 'Ooh, how lovely!' whereas before I would perhaps not have been able to cope."
Praising David, Judi noted, "He is so lovely, with a great sense of humour. Now it's absolutely wonderful because there's somebody who makes me laugh. Isn't it lovely?"
A family in show business
During their "very" happy 29-year marriage, Judi and Michael, a fellow actor she met through the Royal Shakespeare Company, welcomed their daughter, Finty Williams. Finty is best known as the voice of Angelina Mouseling in ITV's children's series Angelina Ballerina, and has appeared in films including Gosford Park (2001) and The Importance of Being Earnest (2002).
Finty has a son, Sam, whom Judi adores. He has accompanied his grandmother to various high-profile events and famously introduced her to TikTok during the Covid lockdown. "Oh, I dote on him. It's heaven," Judi told The Times.
