‘Dad's even more of a hero now'

Dame Judi Dench on learning more about her brave father and connections to the Bard

- CAREN CLARK

Dame Judi Dench made some very poignant discoveries when she explored her family tree for this week’s episode of BBC1’s Who Do You Think You Are?

The Oscar-winning star found out how her adored doctor father, Reginald, won medals for gallantry in World War One and, having delivered some of her most memorable performances in the plays of William Shakespeare, she was thrilled to find a family link to both the Bard and Hamlet when she travelled to Denmark.

Here, Dame Judi, 86, reveals more about a fascinating journey into her ancestry…

What appealed to you about researching your family tree?

I was asked! And not knowing anything about my mother’s side of the family, I was very interested to find out more.

I know that we have the head of a unicorn as our family crest and I wanted to find out whether it had a motto below it. In the programme, I found out about two family mottoes, but I’m not sure if one of them goes with the unicorn crest. I would like to find that out.

Were you worried about what you might learn along the way?

I am sure that investigating anyone’s past would have parts that could shock you. The work that the researchers do is so thorough that there are bound to be some surprises to be found.

Naturally, I was concerned about the possibility of what I might be told. But it’s just been an extraordinary adventure – like starting a play and not knowing your part in it!

What was family life like when you were growing up in York?