Riverside walk dedicated to Oscar-winning actor
Of all York’s famous alumni, the best known must be Dame Judi Dench. Winner of more than 50 awards, including an Oscar and a fistful of BAFTAs, the actor is famed throughout the world for roles including James Bond’s boss M and Queen Victoria in the film Mrs Brown.
Her theatrical beginnings can be traced to her York childhood. She was born in 1934 in Heworth, a prosperous suburb to the north-east of city centre, and her parents were very active in York’s thriving amateur dramatics scene. As well as starring in productions at Mount School, Dame Judi took part in the famous York Mystery Plays on three separate occasions.
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Address York riverside below Lendal Bridge, York YO1 7DP | Public Transport Steps descend from Lendal Bridge next to Lendal Tower. 5-minute walk from Tanner Row or Esplanade car park. Closest bus stops: Museum Street and Station Road | Tip There are lots of good places to eat and drink nearby. For coffee, cake, and lunch, try the Perky Peacock, in an old tower on the other side of Lendal Bridge.
In 1951, the medieval cycle of Bible stories was revived with a new translation by religious scholar Canon J. S. Purvis. Dame Judi auditioned and was rewarded with the part of the “forgetful angel.” She was cast in the Mystery Plays twice more, starring as the Virgin Mary on her last appearance, in 1957.
It was a magical – if wet – experience. She recalled in her autobiography: “All three productions were done in the open air at St Mary’s Abbey, and I was always rained on. It was fine for the Creation of the World, and everything was terrific for the Fall of Lucifer, but when I came on for the Birth of Christ, it just poured down. I used to bend over when he was born, and then come up and part the straw to show the baby, and as I came up I saw people pulling their macs on and putting up umbrellas, and it seemed to happen every time, but it was still a wonderful experience.”
Given that, the location of Dame Judi Dench Walk could hardly be more appropriate. Separating Museum Gardens – home of St Mary’s Abbey – from the river, this Ouse-side stroll disappears underwater in every flood (and there have been some biblical ones recently).
The walk is not the only honour York has bestowed on the actor. In 2000, she was voted the city’s “person of the millennium” in a poll.
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