Judi Dench School, a Quaker independent secondary school in York, and became a Quaker. Her brothers, one of whom was actor Jeffery Dench, were born in Tyldesley, Lancashire. Her niece, Emma Dench, is a historian of ancient Rome and professor previously at Birkbeck, University of London, and currently at Harvard University. In Britain, Dench has developed a reputation as one of the greatest actresses of the post-war period, primarily through her work in theatre, which has been her forte throughout her career. She has more than once been named number one in polls for Britain's best actor. Through her parents, Dench had
Theatre by the Lake Dame Judi Dench. A significant proportion of the £6.5m building cost was contributed by the National Lottery. The name Theatre by the Lake was decided by public consultation and the first performance in the new building was on 19 August 1999. The theatre has two auditoria: 400 seats in the Main House; and 100 seats in the Studio. Theatre by the Lake Theatre by the Lake in Keswick, Cumbria, England is situated on the shores of Derwentwater in the Lake District. It opened in 1999 (replacing the mobile Century Theatre) and was made possible by an Arts Council Lottery Fund