Who was Judi Dench's husband, Michael Williams? Here's everything you need to know about him.
Judi Dench is a celebrated retired English actress. Over the years, she won numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, four British Academy Television Awards, seven Olivier Awards and six British Academy Film Awards. Recently, The Archers: Radio 4 cast recreated the lost first episode. Earlier, Judi was part of this BBC soap opera on its 10,000th edition and played the role of 'Pru Forrest'.
Coming to her personal life, Judi Dench was happily married to Michael Williams for three decades. However, Michael’s death left his family, including Judi and their daughter, Tara Cressida Williams, heartbroken. Now that Judi is hogging the limelight for her past performance in the soap opera, The Archers, let us introduce you to Judi Dench’s husband, Michael Williams.
Michael Williams was born in Liverpool, Lancashire. He is widely known for lending his voice to Dr. Watson in the Sherlock Holmes adaptations for BBC Radio. Before stepping into a career on-stage, Michael studied at RADA. He also appeared on the show, A Fine Romance, with his wife, Judi Dench. According to a report by The Sun, Michael Williams secured his first film at the age of 25 in 1962. He had entertained the audience in both the TV and film industries. Besides being an actor, Michael had also lent his voice to various radio shows.
Judi Dench first crossed paths with the man of her dreams, Michael Williams, during the stage production of John Webster’s The Duchess of Malfi. The couple got married in 1971. Michael was always very proud of his wife, Judi and her achievements. During a media interaction, Judi called her three-decade-long married life a 'happy' one.
In a 2022 interview with Louis Theroux, Judi opened up about the secret foundation of their relationship. She revealed that it was the sense of humour that played a key role in their relationship. She mentioned how her husband used to laugh. She was quoted as saying:
"It was a sense of humour. Michael used to laugh, and when he laughed, he used to cry. Interest in the same things is important, of course, but what is it? It’s impossible to tell."
Michael tragically passed away on January 11, 2001, after a long battle with lung cancer. In June 1999, Judi missed several performances to stay beside her ailing husband. Speaking to the media at the time, Judi said that she was devastated to disappoint anyone who came to see her play, but the harsh circumstances made her miss the performances. Michael is survived by his wife, Judi and their daughter, Tara Cressida Williams a.k.a Finty Williams. For the uninitiated, the couple welcomed their daughter on September 14, 1972.
After Michael’s death, Judi appeared on the podcast, David Tennant Does a Podcast, and fondly remembered her late husband. She called him an 'unselfish man'. She recalled how Michael used to make her laugh. Remembering her husband, Judi said:
"He was the most unselfish man, and he wouldn’t ever attribute that to anything that might be between us… Oh, God, how he used to make me laugh. He used to make me absolutely howl."
Michael’s tragic passing left a scar in Judi’s heart. Once in a podcast, That Gaby Roslin Podcast, Judi revealed that she couldn’t move on and still believes that her husband’s soul regularly visits her at their home. She was quoted as saying:
"His presence is very much in our house, and the garden and everything. whether people say it’s just your imagination… I think those are the kind of things that just happen at the most perfect time."
What are your thoughts on Judi Dench's bond with her late husband, Michael Williams? Let us know.
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