Quote Of The Day By Judi Dench: 'I Don't Want Any Of Those Old Words...'

Without a doubt, Dame Judi Dench is one of Hollywood's most established and celebrated performers. Not only has she been acting on stage and screen for nearly 70 years, but she's racked up an impressive array of awards, from Golden Globes and BAFTAs to an Oscar and even a Tony. And you might have noticed that Dame appellation — Dench was honored with this coveted title by Queen Elizabeth II in 1988.

As for the famed filmography that made Dench such a preeminent star, it would almost be easier to name films that she hasn't been in. A few of her standout performances include "Shakespeare in Love," "Philomena," "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel," "Chocolat," and her eight-movie turn as MI6 spymaster M in the James Bond franchise.

After such a long and storied career, we'd deem Dench a pretty iconic role model. And not just about the world of acting and entertainment — officially a nonagenarian, Dench also knows a thing or two about growing older and making the most of each season of life. For years, she's spoken out about the realities of aging, public perception, and living in the moment, which is why Dench has inspired today's quote of the day.

"It's the rudest word in my dictionary, 'retire.' And 'old' is another one. I don't allow that in my house. And being called 'vintage.' I don't want any of those old words. I like 'enthusiastic,' and I like the word 'cut' because that means you've finished the shot," Judi Dench told The Hollywood Reporter in 2014.

At the time, she was inching toward her 80th birthday and coping with myriad health issues, including a bum knee and macular degeneration that worsened her eyesight. However, Dench had no interest in slowing down or closing the book on her career. And in the years since, she's appeared in more than 20 projects, proving her sentiment that age is just a number.

It's no secret that the film industry (and society in general) places a premium on youth, especially among female performers. Women still in the prime of their life can be considered "too old" for leading parts, or are expected to take extreme beauty measures to remain physically youthful. But as we can see from today's quote, Judi Dench has no time for this restrictive and reductive way of thinking. She unequivocally rejects words like "old," "vintage," and she questions why interviewers are always hinting around about retirement.

Rather than evaluating a woman by her age, Dench suggests focusing on the quality of her work — for instance, her enthusiasm, or her ability to successfully wrap a scene. Certainly, getting older didn't interfere with Dench's performances. Even when her eyesight degraded so badly that she couldn't read her scripts, Dench didn't surrender. "You find a way of just getting about and getting over the things that you find very difficult," she told The Guardian in 2021. "I've had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again."

While Dench finally took a step back from acting a few years later, no one forced her out or pressured her to retire as a "woman of a certain age" — rather, the "Pride and Prejudice" star was able to take her final bows her own way and on her own schedule. It's an incredible reminder that we can all eschew external judgments and work hard to determine our own destiny, regardless of the candles on our birthday cake.

• "I don't think there's any 'too old' to do something. You just have to find the courage to do it."

• "Success is not measured by material possessions or accolades. True success lies in the impact we have on others and the lives we touch."

• "The way I see it, you've got to take chances. You've got to have confidence in yourself. If you can't do that, you'll never achieve anything."

• "Age is an opportunity for reinvention. Embrace it and discover the endless possibilities that lie ahead."

• "People are always saying that actresses are supposed to look a certain way, but there's no one-size-fits-all in the world."

• "Life is a beautiful mess, and that's what makes it so incredible."

• "The best advice I can give to anyone is to keep doing what you love, no matter what."

• "I hope I'll be remembered for my work, but I'd be happy if people just remember me for being kind."