Dame Judi Dench didn’t think "for a second" she would ever get in another relationship after her husband died.
The ‘Skyfall’ actress is currently dating David Mills after losing Michael Williams to lung cancer in 2001, but admits she "wasn’t prepared" to have another romance in her life.
Judi – who was married to Michael for 30 years – said: "I wasn’t even prepared to be ready for it … It was very gradual and grown up. We got together, in a way, through the animals. It’s just wonderful."
The 79-year-old actress – who turns 80 tomorrow (09.12.14) – also revealed the couple do not live together because of their busy schedules.
She explained: "We are much too independent. And he is very busy. He has a business to run.
"But he is so lovely, with a great sense of humour. Now it’s absolutely wonderful because there’s somebody who makes me laugh. Isn’t it lovely?"
Judi joked that David "stalked" her before they started dating and revealed he was keen for the pair to work together shortly after Michael died by opening a badger enclosure, but she declined his offer because it was too soon after her late husband’s death.
She added to The Times magazine: "Although I was filming, I just wasn’t in good enough shape to do something like that."
Judi Dench’s boyfriend shock
