Judi Dench was friends with Maggie Smith since the 1950s (Image: GETTY)
had been inseparable from Maggie Smith ever since the pair bonded way back in the 1950s, while they both enjoyed breakout careers in the theatre.
The loss of the and star devastated Judi so much that she broke down in tears on stage, as heartbroken fans looked on. It comes after 89-year-old Judi lost two pals in the space of a month.
Interviewer Brendan O’Hea addressed her horror experience at the festival, confessing: “I know I probably shouldn’t bring this up, I know the last week has been tricky for you because you lost your great friends Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.” He went on to ask about her famous 2001 quote after which compared grief to petrol.
She explained: “I suppose the energy that’s created by grief…” before bursting into tears. Judi and Maggie first met backstage at London’s Old Vic theatre and went on to star together in various films and performances.
These included the 1985 film A Room With A View, the 2004 fave Ladies in Lavender and then the popular comedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, in 2011. Maggie praised her pal’s friendship and loyalty at a tribute event for her in 2002, when she lifted the lid on the laughter-filled friendship they shared.
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Judi Dench and Maggie Smith with Queen Elizabeth II (Image: GETTY)
Discussing their first meeting, Maggie had told the nation: “What I remember mostly about that time, it was the beginning of a friendship, and I remember laughter more than anything in the world.”
She declared: “Judi’s the most tremendous friend. She’s been a huge support and hugely loyal.”
Ol Parker – who wrote The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, reminisced over their bond too, revealing: “Maggie and Judi would swim in their Victorian swimsuits, and every day we would all laugh and laugh and laugh.”
The pair went on to star together in the 2018 documentary Nothing Like A Dame, which saw them pair up with fellow dames Eileen Atkins and Joan Plowright for the occasion.
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Judi Dench and Maggie Smith giggling together at a Ladies in Lavender premiere (Image: GETTY)
is the second installment in a deeply saddening double dose of grief for Judi, as Barbara Leigh-Hunt also died last month, aged 88.
She was renowned for her role as Brenda in the Alfred Hitchcock film Frenzy – but the pair were so close that she even became the godmother to Judi’s daughter Finty Williams.
Judi is no stranger to grief and she gave a poignant and candid explanation about how she copes during a past interview with
Referring to the aftermath of her husband’s death, she revealed: “Sometimes you have to do a play and it is really painful. That said, I’ve also found it unbelievably cathartic.
“You fortify yourself and use what you are going through as energy. Like petrol. It has helped me cope with the pain.”