From Clueless through Pretty Woman to Star Wars, we chart the best 'dos in the movies

I’d love a blog post about appropriate dressing for those of us over 50…what looks good, what doesn’t… There are no hard and fast rules for the over 50s and I think that in many ways age is a state of mind. Trying to look 20 at...

Judi Dench played M in seven Bond films

This is a big week for Judi Dench. Her latest James Bond movie, "Skyfall" (2012), went back to the top of the list of highest grossing films in the United States. She was part of the ensemble nominated for a SAG Award for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture" for "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" (2012). Her own performance in that movie was nominated today for a Golden Globe as Best Actress in a Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy Film. And she celebrated her 78th birthday earlier this week, December 9th. That's a heady list of accomplishments for an actress who defies our usual expectations of what constitutes a movie star. But that's what Judi Dench is. Despite all her awards, and the position she enjoys as perhaps the most esteemed and respected actress of our time, she really is a true movie star of the classic definition. My late friend Polly Platt once said that her definition of a movie star is someone that men and women equally like. If only one or the other gender like you, you're not really a movie star. Not only does Judi Dench have the esteem and affection of men and women, she also gets it from young people who, not only know who she is, but they also like her and revere her the way their elders do. I have been fascinated with Judi Dench's success since she burst onto the scene in America in the mid-1990s when she debuted as "M" in the James Bond series and soon followed that up with her Oscar nominated performance in "Mrs. Brown" (1997). I already knew who she was from her BBC romantic comedy series "As Time Goes By," which aired on PBS, and her earlier movie roles like "A Room with a View" (1985), "84 Charing Cross Road" (1987), and "A Handful of Dust" (1988). I also remembered her from her early performance as a young actress in the Sherlock Holmes mystery thriller "A Study in Terror" (1965). I already had a vague understanding that she was an established and respected stage actress in the U.K. even before Bond and "Mrs. Brown." So it was kind of wonderful to see how she reached a much broader audience in the last 17 years when she was already in her sixties and at an age when most of her peers are probably starting to collect their pensions and prepare for retirement. I liked her from the moment she debuted as "M" in "GoldenEye" (1995). She gave the Bond movies respectability, and Bond returned the favor by giving her visibility. What's interesting is how Judi Dench has maximized her opportunities since then to put herself in a position where she is offered the best roles available for an actress of any age. She could've just done "Mrs. Brown" and the Bond movies and left it at that, but her continuing success appears to be boundless. Whether it's luck, good instincts, or by design, she has done all of the right things to allow herself to rise beyond just being considered a respected character actress to being a true movie star. And Dench is a movie star, whether or not she fits our stereotypical expectations of one. Even though she is not tabloid fodder, her life and career represents the best aspects of what a movie star should be. She is well-known and well-liked by critics and audiences. Her name and image are always prominently on display, sometimes even above the title, in the advertisements of any films or shows she appears in. You always see her doing publicity and interviews for every project she is in. Unlike other actors with false modesty who shun publicity, Dench appears to realize that effectively promoting the project she has performed in is as important as acting in it. She also does not disdain appearing at the Oscars. In her interviews, she talks about how she still gets a little starstruck and excited at the people she encounters at the Oscar ceremonies, a refreshing counterpoint to English (or American, for that matter) "thee-uh-tah" actors who act like they're too good to attend such events, much less be nominated for the award. And, even though she admits that the stage is where she is the most comfortable, she does not pooh-pooh the cinema. Dench pays it the respect it is due, which keeps her in high esteem among movie aficionados like me. What does not get discussed often is that she also has a subdued and understated elegance about her that is glamorous in its own unique way. Her flattering and distinctive silver pixie hairstyle has become her recognizable trademark. She looks absolutely stunning on the red carpet, whether it's at the Oscars or at a Royal premiere for a Bond movie in London. And I genuinely believe that people like her to such a degree that they will see her in anything she is in. As unlikely as it sounds, I believe she's got box office appeal and that her name is enough to attract people to see something they might normally have overlooked if she did not otherwise appear in it. The success of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" is a perfect example of this. Even though it is a beautifully written and directed movie, everything about it went against the grain of what you expect a successful movie to be. It was an ensemble piece, starring actors well in their 60s and 70s, about a group of pensioners from the U.K. who settle in a hotel in Jaipur, India because they are unable to keep up with the high cost of living in England. Dench was the lynchpin of this movie. Even though it had a wonderful ensemble, she was the lead character and the heart and soul of "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel." She played a widow named Evelyn who comes to the painful realization that her late husband has made unwise investments and left her in a precarious financial position. Evelyn is forced to sell her flat to cover her husband's debts and moves to the film's eponymous hotel in India so she will not become a burden on her family. While there, she must start over again and face new and exciting challenges, which she keeps a daily record of on her blog. Evelyn gets a job working at a call center where she can advise her youthful colleagues how to better understand and effectively interact with British customers. She befriends and advises a young Indian couple she has gotten to know on the joys and pitfalls of relationships. She even falls in love with one of her married neighbors at the hotel, a relationship which allows Evelyn to truly and openly share her feelings and emotions with someone in a way she never did with her late husband. In Dench's skillful hands, Evelyn blossoms in this new environment, as she welcomes new friends and potential romantic interests into her life. She really carries this movie on her shoulders and proves to be as lovely and romantic a leading lady as the cinema has ever seen. I recently read Dench's memoir "And Furthermore." I thoroughly enjoyed it because it was everything a memoir should be. She told good anecdotes about the making of the films she appeared in, while at the same time opened up a bit about her life so that the reader had an understanding as to who Judi Dench is as a human being. She didn't stint on the personal or the professional aspects of her life in that book. One anecdote that sticks out in my mind is the section dealing with why she acted in the Vin Diesel vehicle "The Chronicles of Riddick" (2004). She explained how another film she was slated to appear in fell through, Diesel showed up backstage at a play she was appearing in with a bouquet of flowers and asked her to appear in his film, and she agreed to do it because she liked him. Even though it is probably the worse film she has ever appeared in, Dench never denegrates it or the experience. She simply says that she never understood the script while they were filming, and still does not understand the completed movie, but she was impressed with the sets and enjoyed working with her colleagues, and would never trade the experience for the world. It was so refreshing to see her not take the easy way out and trash the movie, a critical and financial failure, when she easily could have. Many other, lesser actors, have not shown such respectful tact and restraint in discussing some of the projects they've chosen to appear in. A good friend, who is the daughter of an actress who has worked a lot in movies and TV, recently reiterated in a phone conversation how she hates all actors because the ones she grew up encountering turned out to be unjustifiably pompous and snooty (especially the New York "theater" actors). My friend said "I think the only actress who has the right to be snooty is Judi Dench, because she's earned it. But, somehow, I don't think she would be snooty because you never sense an attitude from her." I agree. Dench deserves to be haughty if she wants to be. The fact that she chooses not to be proves to be her most endearing quality. There is something about Dench that evokes a sense of warmth and humility in a way that Vanessa Redgrave and Glenda Jackson do not. (Only Maggie Smith and Helen Mirren are also able to inspire that sense of awe and accessibility with audiences as Dench does.) Dench also seems like she is someone who would be a good sport. I recall an appearance on a British telethon during the 1980s where Joanna Lumley was asked to take off her dress by a caller who promised to make a huge donation. You can see it on YouTube here. My understanding is that, after the caller's donation pledge was independently verified, Lumley agreed to drop her knickers on-air while Dench, who sat nearby, reacted by delightedly clapping and laughing in a good-natured manner. Dench clearly wasn't uptight or fazed by Lumley's provocative gesture. So, during this notable week for Judi Dench, I wish her a Happy (belated) Birthday and I hope she enjoys the attention and accolades that her latest nominations have brought her. I also hope that the Oscars follow suit and recognize her work in "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" with another well-deserved nomination. With the help of her co-stars, as well as the script and direction, she brings depth and gravitas to what could have been a "cutesy" role and movie if it had been in the wrong hands. In her many transcendent close-ups throughout that wonderful movie, Judi Dench truly glows as only the best movie stars do.

The 80-year-old actress was the guest of honour at the unveiling of a sculpture of St Paul at the Actors' Church in London's Covent Garden.

Dame Judi Dench deserves an Oscar nomination for Skyfall, according to producers of the James Bond franchise who wonder why the films have been overlooked for so long.

The 100 British celebrities who really matter by Piers Morgan (78 to 56)

Heralded as the world’s most prestigious horticultural event, the Royal Horticultural Society’s Chelsea Flower Show 2017, opens to the public from Tuesday 23rd May 2017 until Saturday 27th May 2017. Visitors will be treated to exhibits showcasing the latest new plant introductions, alongside beautiful gardens,…

Portrait of Dame Judith Dench from enclase on deviant art. Absolutely breath-taking.

Notice I didn’t just say beautiful. That’s because I think the word beautiful has lost a lot of its value over the years. We use it for all kinds of things now, and many of them have nothing to do with my interpretation of the word. This is...

Ben Child: Rumour has it that Bond's boss is going to die in the latest movie and be replaced by Ralph Fiennes. Will you miss Dench's take on the character?

Judi Dench is already officially a dame, a member of the Royal Society of Arts and has sagging shelves full of acting awards and honors, but apparently she's just as brilliant offscreen. The 78-year-old has a passion for needlepoint and spends her time between takes making delicate embroideries for her costars. But these aren't exactly traditional patterns. "They are all 'You are a C*nt,'" Dench's "Pride and Prejudice" co-star Matthew MacFadyen said. "She is doing this beautifully, intricate ornate work. You see [it] materializing as the shoot goes on, like 'You are a F*cking Sh*t.'" Sometimes there's just so much beauty in the world. READ MORE: http://now.msn.com/judi-dench-embroiders-obscene-phrases-for-her-costars

...Or, as this post might more appropriately be titled, "Railroads, Hoopskirts and Extreme Emotional Trauma (2009) Review." I hardly know how to begin with a review of Return to Cranford. The writing of it might be an easier task if I knew what my conclusions were-- as I do not, I'm rather at a loss what to say. Did I hate it? No, indeed! Did I love it? Eh... no, I didn't. I think, really, I must invoke both Henry Tilney's and Edmund Sparkler's disapproval and say that it was a very nice movie, but it had a great deal of nonsense about it. It was Cranford... and yet it wasn't quite the Cranford of the first movie. And since I didn't think much of the original novel trilogy (Dr. Harrison's Confessions, Cranford and My Lady Ludlow) I can't say that the book was better, but I can say that the first movie was better. Yet there was so much to love in RTC that I couldn't help enjoying it tremendously--yet I was so annoyed by certain plot twists that I was ready to throw an orange at someone. Oh, dear, now my head's in a muddle. I suppose the best way to proceed would be in my usual rambling fashion. I shall endeavor to tell you what I liked and didn't like, and since I don't like to begin or end on a sour note, the Likes will come first, followed by the Dislikes, then more Likes in conclusion. ...Shutting up. (Warning: this post is written with the presupposition that all you readers have seen RTC. If you have not, you may wish to skip this review, for it will be absolutely studded with spoilers.) What I Liked About Return to Cranford ~Miss Matty, bless her heart, had not changed in the two or three years that passed between films. Not much, anyhow. (I'll get to that.) She's still as sweet and caring as ever, still unpretentious and down-to-earth. I loved her relationship with Tilly and how she supported Peter in pretty much anything he wanted to do, and I applauded her when she put her foot down and refused to have that horrid feathered parroty creature in her house. Go, Miss Matty! ~All my favorite ladies made delightful reappearances. Caroline Thompkinson is the only one who didn't show up, but she annoyed me exceedingly in the first movie and I was quite content to do without her. Miss Pole is probably my favorite of the group, and she didn't disappoint. "You will rend every garment you possess when I give you THIS piece of intelligence!" ~So I'll admit it up front, William Buxton was one of my favorite characters in this movie. (Puddle darling, do please stop the hysterical giggling. You wreak havoc on my poor nerves.) I liked him far better than Dr. Harrison in the first movie (hey, nothing against Dr. Harrison, but I just like William better) and he made a nice addition to the original bunch. Please tell me I'm not the only one who immediately thought of Willy Wonka when I first saw his hair... in fact, when he first appeared I thought him a nice fellow but quite unattractive. I changed my mind, peoples, I changed my mind, and then I saw Henry V and repented of everything I'd ever thought in the beginning, but that is a story for another day. ~Peggy Bell is an absolute doll. She was sweet and kind and caring, reminding me a little of Amy Dorrit in her familial situation (I came this close to slapping Mrs. Bell right through the screen on multiple occasions, and as for Edward--let's just say that I may or may not have squeaked, "Ding, dong, the wicked witch is dead!" at some time or another during the course of the film. Ahem.) and her timidity. However, she definitely had some backbone to her and I admired that (not that Amy Dorrit doesn't, but I think Peggy had more.) I loved how she kept coming and coming to see William even when his horrid father wouldn't let her in, and how she took command when Edward got into trouble... et cetera and so forth. William and Peggy's relationship, too, was sweetness itself. I actually ended up liking them better than Dr. Harrison and Sophy--who, though cute, just weren't as interesting as William and Peggy. Couples who have to go through some trouble together before they can have their happily ever after rarely fail to endear themselves to me. Plus, they're just so perfect for each other. *blissful sigh* ~Lady Glenmire was such a fun and welcome addition to the Cranford Gossip Club. Mrs. Jamieson annoyed me far more than she did in the first movie, but I liked how Lady Glenmire was so down-to-earth. She was one of the elements brought over from the original books, and I appreciated that-- I might prefer to movies to the books, but I'm always pleased when the screenwriters include things from the actual novels rather than just taking the names of the characters and running amok with them. Cough, cough, Michael Landon. COUGH COUGH. ~Miss Galindo was back! She quickly became almost my favorite character in this film (can't decide who was my ultimate favorite) and I liked her even better than in the first one. In the first one I had been worrying in the beginning that she was one of those corset-burning soapboxers, but she turned out to be an absolute duck and I like her immensely. Especially when she bawled out Lord Septimus. Yessssssssss. ~Harry Gregson quickly became one of my favorite characters (replacing Mr. Carter, in a way) this time around, though he frustrated me no end at times. (Hmm, this is a good way to segue into What I Didn't Like About RTC. Consider everything after these parentheses to be Dislikes until we get to the Happy Ending. I'll let you know when that comes around.) What I Did Not Like About Return to Cranford ~Harry seemed to have changed. Okay, so obviously he'd grown up a bit in two years, and I hadn't expected him to be the same naive little boy who had gone off to school in the first movie, but I did not like how he suddenly had become indifferent to all Mr. Carter's wishes for him and so set on doing things his own way. I realize that being at his horrible school made a difference and all that, but I do not like it when I spend half the movie joining with my sisters in shrieking at the screen, "NO HARRY STOP IT DON'T BE AN IDIOT!" Especially in the running-away-and-jumping-on-top-of-the-train scene. Can I get an amen? Not to mention making everyone think he was dead (and causing me to vow never to watch this horrible movie again) and then coming back to life with a sort of "LOL just kidding." Um, not funny. NOT. FUNNY. ~Mary Smith was a huge disappointment. I was quite happy to see her reappearance... at first. The lack of Jack Marshland was quite a let-down (I still think they should have ended up together) but the fact that Mary suddenly became the corset-burning soapboxer was incredibly trying. Hey, I have no problem whatsoever with her Articles of Writing ("is it a recipe?") but the way she went about it, with her "I don't need a man and a family to tie me down because I must Follow The Star Within Me And Be True To My Inner Freedom (Whatever That Means)" seemed quite inconsistent with her character. Ugh. ~Though the shunning of Mrs. Jamieson after the advent of Lady Glenmire was a rather hilarious fiasco (good word, fiasco) it just didn't seem like something the Cranford ladies would do. Now, Mrs. Jamieson's rudeness about not letting the other ladies socialize with her sister-in-law (or was she her cousin) wasn't too out of character (I never much cared for Mrs. Jamieson), but the idea of Miss Matty refusing to speak to anyone is pretty much laughable. And Miss Pole staying home from a part just to sulk in silence? Ridiculous. I was sure up until the last minute that she'd cave. But she didn't. And I didn't like that. The ladies of Cranford may get their danders up every so often, but they are good souls on the whole and don't hold grudges of that sort. Sure, everything was sorted out in the end, but it still fidgeted me. ~Mr. Carter was dead. GRRRRR. Miss Deborah was dead. DOUBLE GRRRRRRRR. ~Mr. Buxton was a piece of work. "No, I will not let you marry my son, sweet and lovely young woman, because you are way far beneath him. Get out of my sight instantly. But wait, let me do everything in my power to help your deadbeat brother who just stole money from his employer. Please applaus me now for being such a reasonable human being." TRIPLE GRRRRRRRRR. ~The ending, though deliciously happy, seemed a bit too perfect in one or two spots. Jem and Tilly randomly popping out of the magician's wardrobe thing? Really? ~The whole cow-on-the-line thing appeared to be stolen straight from the archives of Thomas the Tank Engine. 'Fess up, BBC. Are you really THAT desperate for storylines??? ~Lady Ludlow died. Sniffle. Martha died. Sob. Edward Bell died. Party time! Okay, back to the good stuff. What I Liked About the Ending of Return to Cranford ~The magician was HILARIOUS. Here was another character taken from the book, and I was so pleased to see him. The little scene with Miss Pole was one of the most hilarious in the whole movie. "I suppose this is a variation on the classical trick with the hat being A and the dove being... B." "Naoooow. Eeet eess maaaaaaaaageec." :D ~Good old Captain Brown got a happy ending. I defy you not to smile and perhaps even clap a little for him and Lady Glenmire. ~That ending scene was just cuteness. Especially the waltzing. I couldn't make up my mind as to whether the whole lady's-hands-on-the-man's-shoulder was something Peggy invented because William's left arm was out for repairs, or if that was actually the fashion back then. Everyone else seemed to be dancing that way too, but the people of Cranford have a habit of doing little things like that so that no one will feel awkward. Now THAT is typical Cranford-ness. None of the petty shunning or staying home from parties. These are the ladies who gave up their candles, remember. ~Miss Matty finally got her turban. And it actually looked quite sweet. Who would have imagined? Final rating... undecided. There were so many aspects to this movie, with good being A and bad being B (well, duh)... what did you think?

Dame Judi Dench's heart surely skipped a beat, when the celebrated actress - who plays M in the James Bond movies - received her kiss from hunky Bond star Daniel Craig

As Cabaret returns to Broadway, starring Michelle Williams and Alan Cumming, take a look at past productions with Liza Minnelli, Anna Maxwell Martin and Judi Dench