Dame Judi Dench on "As Time Goes By"

The September 29, 2017 issue of Entertainment Weekly asked Judi Dench about the most important roles of her career. By way of introduction, interviewer Joe McGovern wrote, "She laughs a lot, including when you address her as 'Dame Judi.'" 

"In America, people get caught up in the Dame thing," the actress said. "I'm honored, yet it makes me sound very formal and self-serious, and you can safely say I'm not that."

This quote by Judi Dench may remind As Time Goes By fans of an episode in which Lionel and Jean fly from Heathrow Airport, England to Hollywood, California. There, the reunited lovers attempt to sell a CBS executive a TV mini-series based on their youthful--but sadly aborted--romance. Before talking business, the man attempts to put the couple at ease by asking a seemingly innocent question: "And how is your Queen?"

Needless to say, the very formal and self-serious Lionel is not amused.

 

 

Although she is better known in the United States for more high-profile roles, such as M in the James Bond movies, As Time Goes By gets an early mention in this American magazine.

"Unless you've done a situation comedy, you haven't experienced the most difficult job in acting," Dame Judi says. "I absolutely loved it, but it's terrible, exquisite agony to do."

 

 

Creator Bob Larbey once said that he would write scripts for As Time Goes By as long as actors Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench wanted to film the series. The fact that As Time Goes By spanned nine seasons and sixty-seven episodes (including three specials) affirms that Dench enjoyed playing Jean (alongside her cast-mates) very much indeed. 

As an American fan of the series, my only question for my British readers is: "And how is your Dame?"

Dragon Dave