Judi Dench has given her "breadstick"-sized goldfish Lazarus the "kiss of life" twice.

Dame Judi Dench

Dame Judi Dench

Dench - who has previously cared for four cats, two guinea pigs, 12 water voles, two fish, a hamster and a pair of field mice - believes being surrounded by pets is "good for the soul" and she never ceases to be amazed by her "legendary" fish Lazarus.

She said: "I truly believe animals are good for the soul. One of my cats disappeared just before Christmas - he just went off, he was very old.

"But I still have my daughter Finty's dog who lives with me and my legendary goldfish Lazarus.

"I've had to give him the kiss of life twice, and he's still with us. That fish was the size of a finger when we got him. Now, he's bigger than a breadstick.

"Don't think for a second I'm exaggerating. I know because I had a bet with my daughter. I brought home a breadstick from the pub and Lazarus was the length of it and a little bit more."

As well as being around her pets, Judi likes to relax by going window shopping with her daughter.

She told Stylist magazine: "I love going shopping with Finty, we had a lovely day at Selfridges the other day. We 'hit' Selfridges. I didn't buy anything, but I looked. Lovely, it was."


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