Summary. Killing off Judi Dench's M in Skyfall was a bold move to revitalize the 007 franchise after Quantum of Solace's poor reception. Dench's departure was part of a plan to give Bond a new world with a new M, introducing major changes after the problematic previous film.

How many Bond films did Judi Dench make?

The legendary British actor played the role of M in eight Bond movies, beginning in 1995 with GoldenEye and ending in 2015's Spectre. As the chief of M16, M was known to be a stern, focused character.

What happened to M in James Bond?

By the end of Skyfall, M had passed away, a new M was introduced, Q, Moneypenny, the classic "M's Office". Bond had confronted his childhood past, the death of his parents, the loss of his "mother" [M]. He was at peace with Vesper (after Quantum) and had dispersed of the ghosts (Silva) of MI6's.

Which actor turned down James Bond?

Liam Neeson Reveals Why He Turned Down The Role Of James Bond Before It Went To Pierce Brosnan.

What is Judi Dench's health condition?

While she continues to work, she has suffered from age-related macular degeneration (AMD) for many years now, and she's been very open about how her eyesight has been affected in more recent years. Despite battling the difficult condition, Judi has shown that she's just as dedicated to acting as she's ever been.

Judi Dench | How James Bond's Boss Lives and How She Spends Her Millions

Does Judi Dench have memory issues?

Judi Dench Says “It's Become Impossible” to Learn Her Lines Due to Eyesight Loss. Thankfully, however, the actor also has a photographic memory.

What is the age difference between David Mills and Judi Dench?

Judi Dench's partner David Mills is 10 years younger than the Oscar winner and has a totally different background from the actress.

Who was cast as Bond but never played him?

George Baker. He was among the producers favorites, but he was under contract by another studio, he got to play James Bond as George Lazenby's stunt double in On Her Majesty's Secret Service (1969), but never got to play the role as an official Bond.

Who was supposed to play James Bond instead of Daniel Craig?

One of the current favourites to take on the role is Super Man and Mission: Impossible actor Henry Cavill who was thought to be in the running to play Bond before Craig was cast. He told GQ in 2020 that he "would love to play Bond, it would be very, very exciting".

What did M say when Bond died?

What's the quote M reads for Bond's eulogy? "The proper function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days in trying to prolong them. I shall use my time."

What does Q stand for in James Bond?

Q (standing for quartermaster), like M, is a job title rather than a name. The use of letters as pseudonyms for senior officers in the British Secret Service was started by its first director, Captain Sir Mansfield George Smith-Cumming (1859–1923), who signed himself with a C written in green ink.

Why does 007 call M's mom?

Quantum of Solace director Marc Forster suggested that Dench's casting gave the character maternal overtones in her relationship with Bond, overtones made overt in Skyfall, in which Silva repeatedly refers to her as "Mother" and "Mommy" [sic]. In Skyfall she is revealed to be a widow.

What did M stand for in James Bond?

In the Fleming novels M stands for the character's last name, and I think his whole name is Sir Miles Messervy. The movies have carried on this tradition with other characters (Mawdsley, Mansfield, and Mallory) rather than explain why Bond's superior is called something else other than 'M'.

Why did Judi Dench stop acting?

Judi was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012 and was forced to give up driving a few years ago when her eyesight began to worsen. This isn't the first time the actress has opened up about her health condition. Last year she appeared on BBC's Louis Theroux and admitted that 'it's bad'.

Why did Judi Dench leave the James Bond franchise?

Dench's departure was part of a plan to give Bond a new world with a new M, introducing major changes after the problematic previous film. Fans found the iconic M's death controversial, as cutting Dench brought fresh dynamics and female equality to a series known for lacking it.

Who was the least popular James Bond?

George Lazenby often places last on many people's rankings of James Bond actors.

Who was the most liked Bond?

And in at number one, Pierce Brosnan

Then let's press on. For us, the Irishman swings the top spot, purely because he marks the perfect mid-point between everything that makes Bond great. His films see a blend of Timothy Dalton's grittiness and Roger Moore's campiness.

Who turned down the role of Dr. No.?

Fleming favoured either David Niven, Moore or his cousin, Christopher Lee, with his neighbour in Jamaica, Noel Coward, as Dr No, all of whom were deemed unsuitable for one reason or another. In fact Coward himself turned down the part, famously sending a telegraph to the producers which simply read: "Dr. No? No!

Who got turned down for James Bond?

While the debate continues over which actor will take on the role now that Daniel Craig has bowed out, Irish actor Liam Neeson has caused a stir after revealing he turned down the role. Speaking to Rolling Stone, Neeson, 70, shared that he had been approached about playing 007 in the 1990s.

Why did Hugh Jackman reject James Bond?

Hugh Jackman Wanted To Focus On Wolverine

In an interview with IndieWire, Jackman revealed that he turned down the role of Bond in order to focus on the X-Men series: “I had a look at it.

Were Geoffrey Palmer and Judi Dench friends?

The appeal – and success – of As Time Goes By was down to the undeniable chemistry between Palmer and Dench, born from a genuine affection between real-life friends. “Geoffrey and I hit it off from the word go,” said Dench in 2002.

What happened to Judi Dench's first husband?

The Casino Royale actress was previously married to Michael Williams for thirty years before he passed away in 2001 from lung cancer aged 65. Judi has been very open about her heartbreak following his death, telling David Tennant on his podcast it left an "enormous chasm" in her life.

What does Judi Dench's grandson do?

Sam Williams, Judi's grandson, is 25 and is making a name for himself on TikTok, posting regular videos to his near-250k followers. Sam also has a humorous reputation for being an 'Ed Sheeran lookalike', with the pair sharing similar ginger hair and facial features.