DAME Judi Dench’s daughter is to marry after a whirlwind romance — and her mother may give her away in church.
Actress Finty Williams, 29, says she is to marry Richard Murphy — who works in the City — after meeting him in a pub just before Christmas.
Friends of the family said last night that the news has come as a wonderful surprise for Dame Judi, 67, who last week won the best actress Bafta, for her role in Iris.
A source close to the couple said: ‘It was a very surprising announcement, which Rik made at his 30th birthday party with some of his old university friends.
‘Finty was also there, He was so excited, he couldn’t help but tell everyone that they had got engaged.
It was very much a whirlwind romance, and I think the news came as quite a shock for Judi, but she’s absolutely delighted that Finty has found the right person to settle down with.
‘It was a case of love at first sight. As soon as Finty saw Rik she knew that he was the one.
‘They met up for a couple of dates and it was obvious there was a genuine spark. It’s fair to say that Finty did most of the chasing. They are both over the moon.’
Finty, whose real name is Tara, said last night: Its massively early and we haven’t set a date yet or made any plans.
‘We’re not doing it for any reason other than that we’re very, very happy. Mummy knows and she’s very, very happy. Everyone concerned is very pleased.’
The petite actress, who is best known for her stage work and appears in the Oscar-nominated movie Gosford Park, still lives with her mother at their family home Redhill, Surrey.
She has a five-year-old son, Sam, from an affair when she was 24.
She has never revealed the identity of the father, hut has remained devoted to Sam, and friends say he is likely to be a pageboy at the wedding. Finty’s father, actor Michael Williams, died of cancer in January last year, and Dame Judi may give their daughter away at the ceremony.
The source said: I'm sure Judi would love to give her away. They are exceptionally close and it would be very fitting. I don’t know how Judi will cope when Finty eventually moves out.
‘This has sparked rumours that she may even move back to london as their country house is rather large for just one person.’ The family moved to the luxury property in Redhill after their second home in Hampstead, North London, was badly damaged by a fire almost ten years ago. Since the fire - in which Finty nearly died - Dame Judi has been very protective of her daughter.
They have become exceptionally close since the death of Mr Williams, to whom Dame Judi was married for 30 years and with whom she appeared in the TV sitcom A Fine Romance.
Thanks to Maree Wilson for sending me this article which appeared in The Mail on Sunday on March 3, 2002.