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Judi Dench’s advice on intimacy among seniors: Don’t give up
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Actress Judi Dench attends the 'Philomenia' premiere during the 70th Venice Film Festival on August 31, 2013 in Venice, Italy. (Shutterstock/File)
Dame Judi Dench has imparted some kind of wisdom about sex among seniors.
The octogenarian plays Queen Victoria who has an affair with a young Indian Muslim, Abdul Karim, in the movie “Victoria and Abdul.”
The queen was 68 while her confidant, a clerk, was 24. Their relationship was considered scandalous and her children and servants opposed it.
It is unclear if they had sexual relations as many of their correspondences were destroyed. However, the remaining ones revealed that they broached the subject and had an intimate relationship.
In an interview with Saga magazine, Dench hinted that the queen never lost her romantic streak.
“We know her life with Prince Albert was passionate,” she shared.
“Once you’ve had that—it doesn’t matter what age you are—there’s still that desire, that need of wanting somebody you can really relax and talk to and make jokes with.”
At a Radio Times interview, Dench, 82, talked about sex drive in the later years of life from her own personal experience.
Read also: Dustin Hoffman & Judi Dench receive Int'l Emmy nominations
“Well, of course, you still feel desire. Does that ever go? To the older reader, I would say: ‘Don’t give up,’” she said.
Romance is still very much alive for the Oscar award-winning actress, who has been with boyfriend David Mills, an environmental conservationist, since 2010.
She was previously married for 30 years to actor Michael Williams who died of lung cancer in 2001.
She was surprised to have found someone to love at her age.
“It’s wonderful to be in love. That state when you’re glad to see somebody and they make you laugh and you just like being with them,” she told Good Housekeeping.
The “Skyfall” actress has also advocated against ageism in Hollywood. “It drives me absolutely spare when people say, ‘Are you going to retire? Isn’t it time you put your feet up?’” she said in an interview with Hollywood Reporter.
This article appeared on the Philippine Daily Inquirer newspaper website, which is a member of Asia News Network and a media partner of The Jakarta Post
