The Decorated Judy Dench of “A Study In Terror”

“… she is a most consummate actress …”

– The Adventure of the Cardboard Box (CARD)

The 1966 film A Study in Terror featured noted actress Judi Dench in just the third film of her long and illustrious career. Dench would play the role of Sally, who assisted her uncle in running a hostel / soup kitchen.

There was this memorable dialogue in the film between Dench’s character, Sherlock Holmes and Lord Carfax:

Lord Carfax, Richard Osborne: What’s all this about, Holmes, how did you get here?

Sherlock Holmes: I followed this young lady.

Sally: I saw no one.

Sherlock Holmes: That is exactly what you’d expect to see when I follow someone.

Judi Dench was born in Yorkshire in 1934 and would later attend the Central School of Speech and Drama. She would go on to spend four years with the Old Vic Theatre Company and also appeared in several other theater productions. Dench would be honored by BAFTA in 1965 as the Most Promising Newcomer to Leading Film Roles and in 1966 as the Television Best Actress.

In 1971, Dench married actor Michael Williams. Williams is well known for his portrayal of Dr. Watson in the BBC4 radio dramatizations with Clive Merrison’s Sherlock Holmes that ran from 1989 to 1998. They would perform together in that series version of Hound of the Baskervilles with Dench portraying Mrs. Hudson.

Her performance as Queen Victoria in the 1997 film Mrs. Brown would earn Dench Best actress awards from BAFTA and the Golden Globes, along with nominations for the Academy Awards and the Screen Actors Guild. She would go on to portray the role of “M” in the James Bond series for 8 films. For more information about about Dench’s career, click HERE.

In the June 5, 1970 issue of The London Gazette, it was announced that Dench would receive the Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE).

The badge for the OBE is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the left facing busts of King George V and Queen Mary; the reverse bears George V’s Royal and Imperial Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order. The badges are plain gold (unlike the enamelled CBE badge), and is suspended from a ribbon that is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division.

When the New Year’s Honours were announced for 1988, Dench was appointed to be an Ordinary Dame Commander of the Civil Division of the said Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (DBE).

The badge for the DBE is in the form of a cross patonce (having the arms growing broader and floriated toward the end), the obverse of which bears the left facing busts of King George V and Queen Mary; the reverse bears George V’s Royal and Imperial Cypher. Both are within a ring bearing the motto of the Order. The badges are enamelled with pale blue crosses and crimson ring, and is suspended from a ribbon that is rose-pink with pearl-grey edges, with the addition of a pearl-grey central stripe for the military division.

In addition to the badge, DBE holders also receive a silver breast star that is to be worn pinned over the left breast. The star has a crimson ring with the motto of the Order inscribed. Within the ring are the left-facing busts of King George V and Queen Mary.

In the Queen’s Birthday Honours of 2005, Dench was appointed to the Order of the Companions of Honour (CH) for services to Drama.

The CH was also created by King George V in June 1917 to reward outstanding achievements in the arts, literature, music, science, politics, industry, and religion.

The CH is an oval medallion with an oak tree, a shield with the Royal Arms of the United Kingdom hanging from one branch, and on the left a mounted knight in armour. The badge’s clear blue border bears the motto IN ACTION FAITHFUL AND IN HONOUR CLEAR in gold letters, and the oval is surmounted by an imperial crown. Men wear the badge on a ribbon that is red with golden border threads.

The CH order is limited to no more than 65 members at one time.