Judi Dench 'Forced Herself To Recover' After Knee Operation To Attend Philomena Premiere

Dame Judi Dench made herself have a speedy recovery after she had a knee replacement operation recently, so she could get back to work and attend the premiere of her new movie Philomena.

The James Bond actress underwent the surgery last month after it caused her pain for several years, but only allowed herself six weeks to recover, before she was walking that red carpet once again.

The 78-year-old told Daily Mirror: "The scar's from here to here, there to there. I have a completely new knee now. It's brilliant.

"When I had it done on September 6, I said to my surgeon 'On October 16 I will walk up a red carpet unaided', and so I did. You set your mind to a goal and go for it."

The actress also added that she has no plans to retire anytime soon: "I'm not feeling my age at all. I am about 43, a tall willowy blonde 43-year-old with long legs. I don't want to slow down at all. We don't say the word retirement in our house. Old and retired are totally banned. Energy keeps me going.

"We (actors) are in the minority of people who are doing a job we chose to do and can make a living at. Why aren't we running to work every day?"

Judi Dench made herself recovery quickly after her knee operation (Photo: WENN)

Philomena is based on the story of Irish mum Philomeno Lee's struggle to find her son over a 50 year period, who was sold for adoption in the US after she gave birth as a teenager and was forced in to a convent.

The movie has been adapted from the novel The Lost Child of Philomena Lee: A Mother, Her Son and a Fifty-Year Search.

Already being hailed as a stellar performance from Dench, Indiewire gave a glowing review on the film, writing: "The story, and Dench, could have easily lapsed into a treacly pit, and while the 'cute Irish lady' card is definitely played, it's presented in a compellingly joyous fashion so that it never grates."

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