Dame Judi Dench has revealed she cried when Bond producers told her that M was being killed off.

The veteran actress played the MI6 chief in seven Bond films but her character met her demise in Skyfall in 2012.

She said she “laughed through her tears” when Bond producers told her the news over lunch in London.

“They told me gently and I laughed through my tears. Seven [Bond] films is a long time. But MI6 would have given her the push by now, don't you think?”, she told Radio Times magazine.

The actress, who turns 80 today, said that her late husband, actor Michael Williams, encouraged her to sign up for the Bond films.

Bond on screen through the years Show all 8 1 /8 Bond on screen through the years Bond on screen through the years Barry Nelson The first ever Bond on screen, Nelson played James Bond in 1954 in Climax! Casino Royale Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years Sean Connery The Scottish actor first played Bond in the 1962 'Dr. No'. He portrayed the secret agent from 1962 until 1967, although he reprised the role twice: once in 1971 for 'Diamonds Are Forever' and again in 1983 in 'Never Say Never Again' Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years David Niven Niven was 007 the time of one film; the 1967 'Casino Royale' Roy Jones/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years George Lazenby Lazenby played Bond in the 1969 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service' Larry Ellis/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years Roger Moore Moore's Bond started with 'Live and Let Die', the 1973 film directed by Guy Hamilton. He was the face of 007 for 12 years, when his tenure finished with the 1985 'A View to a Kill' Keystone/Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years Timothy Dalton Timothy Dalton was James Bond in 'The Living Daylights' and 'Licence to Kill' Mychele Daniau/AFP/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years Pierce Brosnan Brosnan took over the role in 1995 when he played the spy in 'GoldenEye'. He played in a total of four films, and his last time playing 007 was in 2002 'Die Another Day' Hulton Archive/Getty Images Bond on screen through the years Daniel Craig Daniel Craig was announced as the new James Bond in 2005. His first appearance as the secret agent was in the 2006 'Casino Royale'. He has since starred as Bond in 'Quantum of Solace' and 'Skyfall'. He is expected to appear once again on screen in 2015 for 'Bond 24' Greg Williams/Getty Images

“He wanted to live with a Bond woman. 'Oh God, oh crikey,' he said, 'you've got to do it.'"

Despite being killed off from the Bond franchise, the actress, who stars opposite Dustin Hoffman in the BBC’s adaptation of Esio Trot this Christmas, said she had no intention of retiring soon.

She is due to star in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel sequel next year, and also features in the forthcoming period drama Tulip Fever.

The cast for the next Bond film, Spectre, was unveiled last week and will include Monica Bellucci, Lea Seydoux and Andrew Scott as new faces to the franchise.