Judi Dench
Dench in 2011, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Judith Olivia Dench
Place of Birth: Heworth, York, Yorkshire, England, U.K.
Date of Birth: 9 December, 1934
Ethnicity: English, Irish Protestant
Judi Dench is a British actress and author. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for Shakespeare in Love (1998). She is also known for her roles in Philomena, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Notes on a Scandal, Mrs Henderson Presents, Belfast, and the James Bond franchise. She is often associated with actress Maggie Smith, who was nineteen days younger.
Judi is the daughter of Eleanora Olive/Olave (Jones) and Reginald Arthur Dench. Her father was English. Her mother was from a Protestant family from Dublin, Ireland, where Judi’s parents met. Judi was married to actor Michael Williams, until his death. They have a daughter, actress Finty Williams.
Judi’s paternal grandfather was George William Dench (the son of George Joseph Dench and Emily Matilda Fooks). Judi’s grandfather George was born in Weymouth, Dorset, England. Judi’s great-grandfather George was the son of William Bartlett Dench and Elizabeth Stone.
Judi’s paternal grandmother was Bessie Oak Smith (the daughter of Thomas Smith and Susan/Susannah Jane Bussey). Bessie was born in Weymouth, Dorset, England. Thomas was the son of James Smith and Eliza. Susan may have been the daughter of Thomas Bussey and Ann Dyer.
Judi’s maternal grandfather was Henry Jebb Jones (the son of Henry Jebb Jones and Margaret Wilson). Judi’s grandfather Henry was born in Dublin, Ireland. Judi’s great-grandfather Henry was the son of John Jones. Margaret was the daughter of John Wilson and Eleanor Frances Bolton.
Judi’s maternal grandmother was Jane Simons (the daughter of James Arthur Simons and Emily Mervyn). Jane was born in Cavan, County Cavan, Ireland. James was the son of James Simons and Jane. Emily was the daughter of Robert Jones Mervyn and Eleanor/Ellen.
Sources: Genealogies of Judi Dench – https://www.geni.com
https://www.wikitree.com
Northern Irish? Her mother was from Dublin. There are no connections to the North of Ireland.
Huh? The profile literally says her maternal grandmother was born in Cavan, which is in Ulster, and Judi’s maternal famil were Protestants. It’s no less (or more) Ulster just because it’s on one side or the other of an artificial border.
Thete are no Northern Irish connections. Just because her grandmother is protestant and from a place slightly north of the centre of Ireland does not mean she was Northern Irish. So geographically she is not from Northern Ireland and being from Cavan she is literally, constitutionally, politically, or whatever other way you want to look at it, she still has no Northern Ireland connection. She is 100% Irish just like most other Irish of different religious backgrounds.