Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Judi Dench reveals a clairvoyant chose her name

Actor to play medium in new film Blithe Spirit

Ellie Harrison
Sunday 03 January 2021 04:49 EST
Comments
Judi Dench urges people to keep laughing while in self-isolation

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Judi Dench has revealed that her name was chosen for her in a very unconventional way.

The Oscar-winning actor has recalled the story ahead of the release of Blithe Spirit, the film adaptation of Noël Coward’s comedy about the afterlife and ghosts.

“A very strange thing happened at the time that I was born,” Dench told The Observer, explaining that her father, who was a doctor, went to see a “famous medium” the day after she was born in 1934.

According to Dench, the clairvoyant said to her father: “I’m very pleased to hear about Judith.”

The actor continued: “My parents had no idea what I would be called and so I was called Judith which – fortunately – now I’m never called.”

She added: “There was great belief in the 1930s in mediums. They toured and people went to the shows.”

On whether she believes in the afterlife, Dench said: “I think it’s difficult for us to say that there is nothing. There is a huge world that we don’t know about. I implicitly believe that, because all sorts of things have happened to me.”

In the forthcoming movie, Dench plays an eccentric medium named Madame Arcati.

Blithe Spirit will be released by Sky Original in cinemas and on Sky Cinema from 15 January.  

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in