Dame Judi Dench, 91, known for her role as M in the James Bond film franchise, is widely considered to be one of the UK’s greatest actresses. Over the years, she has played a plethora of roles on stage and screen which has seen her garner various accolades includes an Oscar, two Golden Globes and a Tony Award. Her professional career began in theatre with the Old Vic company, where she performed in several Shakespeare plays, including Hamlet, Romeo and Juliet and Macbeth.
She then went on to play the leading role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret and established herself as one of the most significant British theatre performers, working for the National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company. During this time, she starred in several TV shows, including A Fine Romance and As Time Goes By, and had supporting roles in major films, including A Room with a View (1985).
It was when she stepped into the role of M in GoldenEye in 1995 that she rose to international fame.
She later appeared in several films, including Shakespeare in Love (1998), Mrs Brown (1997), Chocolat (2000), Notes on a Scandal (2006), and Philomena (2013).
Away from the stage and screen, Dame Judi lives a quiet life in a charming farmhouse in Surrey. She bought the property 40 years ago with her late husband, Michael Williams, who died from lung cancer in 2001.
The property is located near the village of Outwood, which is home to around 720 residents.
The property, which was built in 1497, is said to be worth approximately £8million and reportedly features a barn, a pond, a separate cottage, workshops, and a swimming pool.
However, the 91-year-old has previously stated that the property is home to some furry inhabitants and has some structural problems, according to the Mirror.
She said: “The mice have moved in since lockdown, and I’m battling the mice. They have moved in and taken over a bit.
“My house is falling down a bit here and there.”
According to House and Garden, Dame Judi can occasionally be spotted dining at her favourite Italian restaurant in the nearby town of Redhill.
The tiny village is quiet, close to London and Gatwick Airport, making it an extremely sought-after area.
According to Rightmove, house prices in Outwood had an overall average of £827,000 over the last year.
The majority of properties sold in Outwood during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £657,000, while detached properties sold for an average of £871,250.
Overall, the historical sold prices in Outwood over the last year were 2% higher than the previous year and 9% lower than the 2021 peak of £905,763.
Dame Judi isn’t the only celebrity to live in the affluent county of Surrey. Dubbed Britain’s ‘Beverly Hills’, Surrey offers celebs space, quiet and privacy just 30 to 40 minutes away from the UK capital.
As well as Dame Judi, actor Tom Hardy, legendary musician Elton John, former Chelsea captain John Terry, Spanish actor Antonio Banderas and Queen guitarist Brian May.
