Judi Dench Shares She Wanted 6 Children With Late Husband Michael Williams: "We Had 1, And We Didn't Have The Other 5. It Just Didn't Happen."
Dame Judi Dench, the celebrated actress of stage and screen, recently opened up in an interview with The Sunday Times about her and her late husband Michael Williams’s hopes for a large family.
The couple, who shared a loving marriage until Williams's death in 2001, had envisioned a household filled with children. “Michael and I said, ‘We’re going to have six children,’” Dench recalled in a recent interview. “We had one, beautiful Finty, and we didn’t have the other five; it just didn’t happen. I worked a lot. I suppose you don’t stop to consider, really.”
Williams, a celebrated actor himself, was Dench’s partner both on and off the stage. The couple married in 1971, sharing a life filled with love, laughter, and their shared passion for acting. They often collaborated professionally, with their natural chemistry shining through in productions.
Their daughter, Finty Williams, born in 1972, followed in their footsteps, becoming an accomplished actor in her own right. While the family wasn’t as large as they had envisioned, Dench expressed deep gratitude for the joy and fulfillment Finty brought into their lives.
In recent years, a growing conversation has emerged about the societal attitudes surrounding parenthood, particularly as anti-children sentiments gain traction in some circles. These views, often tied to climate alarmism or "freedom" discourage people from pursuing parenthood. However, many individuals—both men and women—later express regret over not having children or not having more. Studies and anecdotal evidence alike reveal that as people age, the absence of children often creates a loneliness that career achievements, hobbies, or travel cannot erase.
As she approaches her 90th birthday next week, Dench reflected on her career, which includes playing M in the James Bond series, as well as countless award-winning roles on stage and screen. When asked to pick a favorite moment, she remarked, “I think you’re lucky to be able to say that,” adding that she couldn’t choose just one highlight.
Looking ahead, Dench expressed optimism about her future: “Am I going to be 100? Well, I hope so. That would be nice. I’ll try and make 100.” While she joked about avoiding thoughts of turning 90, saying she prefers to think of herself as 29, she acknowledged the poignancy of the milestone, reflecting on the recent loss of close friends Dame Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.
Despite facing challenges with her eyesight and hearing, Dench remains as vibrant as ever. She revealed she still has projects in the pipeline. “I’m able to at least get from A to B and walk about, and golly, I’ve got a great deal to be grateful for,” she shared.
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