Come next Wednesday, she'll be in Prague preparing to shoot her scenes as the spy chief in the new Bond picture Casino Royale. "M's got a bit more to say," she confided. "And I'm very pleased about that."
Then it's off to the Bahamas for further 007 location work, which means Dame Judi will mioss the Orange Baftas but just might be able to squeeze in the Academy Awards on March 5 -- although Peter Hall is due to start rehearsals for Noel Coward's Hay Fever the following day, back in Britain. Hay Fever (her first Coward in 40 years) previews at the Theatre Royal, Haymarket, on April 6 with a first night on April 19.
After that, the whirlwind continues as she does a stint at the Royal Shakespeare Company. After that she might find herself in Joe Wright's screen adaptation of Atonement -- although nothing's been settled.
This time next year I fully expect her to be in the Oscar race again, for Notes On A Scandal, Richard Eyre's screen version of Zoe Heller's novel, which also stars Cate Blanchett.
Judi's been a bit under the weather recently, but is better now. I'm sure she works far too hard. But she won't stop. "If I do, I'll fall over," she declared.
This article appeared in the Daily Mail (UK) on February 3, 2006. Thanks to Kevin for sending it to me.