Michael williams actor judi dench movies

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I mean, you knew him. He was a handsome lad, wasn't he?" Kenneth asked, to which an emotional Judi replied: "He was."

Tea with Judi Dench airs December 22 on Sky Arts, Freeview, and streaming service NOW.

Dame Judi Dench became emotional as she reflected on the loss of her late husband Michael Williams in a candid new documentary.

Observing this, Kenneth commented: "Now that's a very talented young actor! In the latter, in perhaps an irresistible casting decision, he played his namesake, the Shakespearean character named Michael Williams. I love it, I really love it.'

Dame Judi Dench, 91, became emotional as she reflected on the loss of her late husband Michael Williams in a candid new documentary, Tea With Judi

The Oscar-winner sat down with her long-term friend Kenneth Branagh, 65, to open up her 'little black book' in Tea with Judi - a programme that blends personal anecdotes with rarely seen archive material to chart her extraordinary life and career

Judi and Michael were married for just shy of three decades when he lost his battle to lung cancerat the age of 65 in 2001 and share a daughter, Finty Williams, now 53

Judi and Kenneth then went on to have a discussion about her experience working with her late husband on The Merchant of Venice shortly after their 1971 wedding, when she stepped into the shoes of Portia and he played Bassanio.

This was something that Kenneth could also relate to as he went on to work with Michael himself in the film Henry V, where he portrayed a soldier with his very name - Michael Williams.

He had such a tack and he had such a sort of strong and, as it happened, very masculine presence.

"And very, he had that incredible sort of movie star jaw and those piercing eyes. He had such a tack and he had such a sort of strong and, as it happened, very masculine presence.

'And very, he had that incredible sort of movie star jaw and those piercing eyes.

Finty is also mother to Sam, 26, who found fame during lockdown making fun TikToks with his famous grandmother.

Family: Judi pictured with daughter Finty Williams and grandson Sam 

Judi Dench

Share or comment on this article: Who is Judi Dench's late husband Michael Williams? In the peaceful setting of her English garden, the two friends look back on their personal lives, professional journeys, and collaborative work over the years.

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Michael passed away at their home "surrounded by family and friends" after a long battle with lung cancer.

The couple had one daughter, Finty Williams, now 53, who has a son, Sam Williams, aged 28.

In 1967, he played in Peter Whitehead's documentary Benefit of the Doubt on Peter Brook's anti-Vietnam play "US", along with Peter Brook and The Royal Shakespeare Company.

His many radio roles included crime reporter George Cragge in In the Red and its sequels, and Dr Watson in the BBC's complete run of Sherlock Holmes adaptations.

Williams provided voices for the Woodland Animations BBC Television series Charlie Chalk, created by Ivor Wood.

Private life

He married Judi Dench in 1971, the same season that they co-starred in John Webster's The Duchess of Malfi.

Judi maintains a close relationship with both her daughter and grandson.

In 1995, Dame Judi and Michael moved to a 17th-century property with six acres of land in Wasp Green, Surrey. He was a handsome lad, wasn't he?'

Judi replies: 'He was.' 

Elsewhere in the programme, viewers will be treated to more lively conversation, humorous insights and moments of genuine candour and emotion.

The programme comes after Dame Judi Dench feared she would 'lose the plot' due to her deteriorating eyesight and short-term memory loss.

I just think…'

Weinstein was the producer of Judi's first big Hollywood film, Shakespeare in Love, which earned her the best supporting actress Oscar in 1998 for her role as Elizabeth I, despite spending a total of just eight minutes on screen.

When the allegations first surfaced, Dame Judi said she was horrified by the claims and, in a statement, offered her sympathies to those who have suffered.

She told Newsweek in 2017: 'Whilst there is no doubt that Harvey Weinstein has helped and championed my film career for the past 20 years, I was completely unaware of these offences which are, of course, horrifying, and I offer my sympathy to those who have suffered, and wholehearted support to those who have spoken out.'

Tea with Judi airs on December 22 on Sky Arts, Freeview and streaming service NOW. 

Michael K WilliamsJudi DenchHarvey Weinstein

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Michael Williams (actor)

For other people named Michael Williams, see Michael Williams (disambiguation).

Michael Williams
BornMichael Leonard Williams
9 July 1935 (1935-07-09)
Bradford, England
Died11 January 2001 (2001-01-12) (aged 65)
Hampstead, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1961–1999
SpouseDame Judi Dench (m. 1971–2001) «start: (1971-02-05)–end+1: (2001-01-12)»"Marriage: Dame Judi Dench to Michael Williams (actor)" Location:(linkback://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Williams_(actor))
ChildrenFinty Williams

Michael Leonard Williams (9 July 1935 – 11 January 2001) was an Englishactor who played both classical and comedic roles, and was the husband of Dame Judi Dench.

Early life and career

Born in Liverpool, he attended St.

Edward's College and worked as an insurance assessor before going into the theatre.

His first film appearance was in 1962, and he subsequently appeared frequently on television (notably in Elizabeth R), and in British films such as Educating Rita (1983) and (along with Dench) Henry V (1989). We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook.


You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook.

The legendary actress spoke frankly about her health and her former friendship with disgraced American producer Harvey Weinstein in another wide-ranging interview with the Radio Times, ahead of her 91st birthday earlier this month.

Judi and Kenneth then went on to have a discussion about her experience working with her late husband on The Merchant of Venice shortly after their 1971 wedding, when she stepped into the shoes of Portia and he played Bassanio

This was something that Kenneth could also relate to as he went on to work with Michael himself in the film Henry V, where he portrayed a soldier with his very name - Michael Williams - and Judi was clearly touched when Kenneth described her late husband as handsome

Judi admitted she can no longer see the television and has to rely upon her team of assistants to help her with day-to-day tasks.

The screen star was diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration in 2012, which can cause permanent and rapid central vision loss, and is the number one cause of vision loss in people over 50.

'It's a crusher', said Judi, after revealing both her eyes are beyond treatment as they are in the progressed 'wet' stage of AMD.

'I miss seeing Clive Myrie doing Mastermind, but I can hear the questions', Dame Judi added, when asked about what she missed.

The actress had to give up driving, embroidery, and even going out alone.

Despite these challenges, Judi continues to work by having friends and colleagues read her scripts aloud, which she then learns using her photographic memory.

And the actress admitted while she can reel off reams of Shakespeare's soliloquys, she 'can’t remember what I’m doing tomorrow, I swear to you'.

Oh, God, how he used to make me laugh'.

'He used to make me absolutely howl.'

What did Judi Dench and Michael Williams star in together?

Distinguished: Michael was Liverpool and earned great acclaim as a stage actor in the Royal Shakespeare Company, the very place he met soon to be wife Judi (pictured in 1998) 

Couple: Michael and Judi wed in 1971 and remained married until his death from lung cancer in 2001 aged 65 (pictured in 1999)

Couple: Following his death Judi found love again with conservationist David Mills, 77 (pictured together in 2022) 

The duo appeared together ion stage but are best remembered for co-starring in ITV sitcom A Fine Romance from 1982 to 1985.

When asked about the foundation of the couple's relationship Judi told Louis Theroux  in 2022: 'It was a sense of humour. In the play, Judi played Portia while Michael portrayed Bassanio.

Kenneth, on the other hand, reminisced about his time with Michael in the film Henry V, where he played King Henry V of England and Michael portrayed Michael Williams, a soldier serving in Henry's ranks.

After watching a scene from the production, Judi became emotional.

michael williams actor judi dench movies