Judi Dench had energy after husband's death

Dame Judi Dench had an "extraordinary energy" after her late husband Michael Williams died 11 years ago.

Dame Judi Dench had an "extraordinary energy" after her husband died.

The 77-year-old Hollywood actress - whose late husband Michael Williams died 11 years ago - found it helpful to grieve by doing one job after another in a short space of time, but she admits her busy working schedule nearly gave her agent a fit.

She told Stella magazine: "I had this extraordinary energy after Michael died. I went off to Nova Scotia and did six weeks on 'The Shipping News'. Then I came home and two days later I started 'Iris'. Then I did some more work on 'The Shipping News'. And two days after I started 'The Importance of Being Earnest'.

"My poor agent nearly had a fit because I was cutting things so fine. But I found working at that pace and doing those kinds of parts helped me. Whereas playing a grief-stricken widow would have been no help at all."

Despite steering clear of playing the role of a widow since Michael died, Judi is set to portray a woman whose husband has just died in her latest film 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel', which gave her doubts about starring in the movie.

She added: "It wasn't just an emotional decision. There were professional reasons, too. I think if I'd played a grief-stricken widow too soon after Michael died I might have over-egged the part. Or at least I don't think my judgment would have been that good."