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Her parents, Dr. Reginald and Olave Dench, were both enthusiastic amateur actors, and her siblings Peter and Jeffery also acted in local productions. Her parents first took Judi to see a performance when she was four years old and she laughed so hard they feared she would make herself ill so they left early. Apparently convinced they had over-reacted they brought her back the next night.

A year later she made her drama debut, playing the role of a snail. Judi has always dated her professional debut from , when the city of York revived medieval mystery plays. She played the Virgin Mary. She did not want to act, however — she wanted to be a designer. Rather half-heartedly, by her account, she applied to The Central School and was accepted.

Though she loved being in London, seeing as many plays as she could and enjoying the company of classmates, Judi did not see in herself the potential her teachers did. Only after she performed a mime on the spur of the moment she had forgotten to prepare the assignment and received glowing praise from the instructor did she begin to think she might have the talent for a career in acting.

It is likely that her instructors recognized her potential much sooner.

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In her early days at Central she had a small speaking voice. Rather than suggest she try another field, two faculty members worked with her for a year to develop her voice. They — and she — succeeded. When Judi graduated from Central her awards and prizes included the Gold Medal and the prize for outstanding student of the year. Benthall took her along, but not as Ophelia.