Dame Judi Dench becomes British Vogue’s oldest cover star

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It is hard to believe that Dame Judith Olivia Dench was born in 1934, and perhaps even harder to believe that in a world that favours the young, she is still working at the age of 85. It is, therefore, a fitting salute to this Oscar-winning actress, and grande dame of the theatre, that she has finally graced the cover of British Vogue.

Editor in chief Edward Enninful said of his June 2020 cover star,” Ever modest, Judi Dench is not a fan of the term national treasure, But treasure her we do. Now more than ever. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see Judi Dench, the unassailable queen of stage and screen, starring on her first-ever Vogue cover at the age of 85. Photographed in early February and interviewed under the looming spectre of Covid-19 over the following weeks, Judi is the oldest person ever to grace our cover, and she brings great perspective and a message of hope from her own quarantine in the English countryside.”

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At the beginning of March, before the world went into lockdown, @BritishVogue enjoyed an audience with one of the nation’s most beloved citizens. I can’t tell you how pleased I am to see Dame Judi Dench, the unassailable queen of stage and screen, starring on her first Vogue cover at the age of 85 – making her the oldest cover star in the history of the magazine. For the June 2020 issue, she speaks to @GilesHattersley about everything from why retirement is out of the question to her enduring love of champagne, and brings a message of hope from her own quarantine in the English countryside. Click the link in bio to read the interview and see the full story in the new issue, on newsstands and available for digital download Thursday 7 May. #JudiDench wears a trench coat by @DolceGabbana. Photographed by @Nick_Knight and styled by @KPhelan123, with hair by @SamMcKnight1, make-up by @TheValGarland, nails by @MikePocock and set design by @TomoTattle.

A post shared by Edward Enninful, OBE (@edward_enninful) on May 4, 2020 at 8:57am PDT

While Dame Judi Dench was photographed by Nick Knight in early February before the lockdown was imposed, the actual interview was conducted while Dench was self-isolating with her 76-year-old partner, conservationist David Mills.

Vogue contributing editor Kate Phelan said of the star “It’s fascinating to me that this is Judi’s first cover, at the age of 85, when she is such a megastar. I was very aware that I was in the presence of someone who had experienced some truly incredible things, and lived life to the full.”

You look stunning Dame Judi Dench! Take a look at this very special and fun clip posted by British Vogue.

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The word “legend” gets thrown around a lot, but in the case of British Vogue’s June cover star, Judi Dench, it’s a more than fitting description. After thrilling audiences for six decades, what she doesn’t know about life and love isn’t worth knowing, so #BritishVogue invited some of the biggest stars on the planet to put their burning questions to Britain’s most beloved actor. Watch as #SamSmith, #Stormzy, #ReeseWitherspoon, #KateMoss, #LaverneCox and more grill the national treasure on everything from her most-used swear word to her short-lived rap career. Watch the full film at the link in bio. Featuring: #JudiDench wearing custom-made @CatherineWalkerLondon and @AnyaTaylorJoy, @CaraDelevingne, @CharlizeAfrica, @CushJumboHere, #DanielCraig, @EllaBalinska, @FrankieGoesToHayward, @KateMossAgency, @KelvHarrJr, @LaverneCox, @NaomiGScott, @OrlandoBloom, @PoppyDelevingne, @ReeseWitherspoon, @RizAhmed, @SamSmith, @IanMcKellen and #Stormzy. Directed and edited by @Kloss_Films, DoP @JaimeAckroyd and produced by @TheRealMinnieCarver, with styling by @KPhelan123, hair by @SamMcKnight1, make-up by @TheValGarland and nails by @MikePocock.

A post shared by British Vogue (@britishvogue) on May 4, 2020 at 9:31am PDT

The title of British Vogue’s oldest cover star was previously held by Jane Fonda who graced the cover of its “Non-Issue” issue in 2019.