Eleanora Olive Jones: Who is Judi Dench's mother?

May 2024 · 3 minute read

Eleanora Olive Jones is the mother of actress Judi Dench. Eleanora Olive Jones’s daughter is widely considered one of Britain’s greatest actors. She received critical acclaim for her work on television including the ITV comedy series A Fine Romance (1981–1984) and the BBC1 romantic series As Time Goes By (1992–2005), in both of which she held starring roles. She is also known for films including Mrs Brown, Chocolat, Iris, Mrs Henderson Presents (2005), Notes on a Scandal, Philomena, and Belfast. Dench is the recipient of numerous accolades including an Academy Award, a Tony Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and four British Academy Television Awards, just to mention a few.

Eleanora Olive Jones: Bio Summary

Full NameEleanora Olive Jones
famous asJudi Dench’s mother
Age85 years old at the time of death
Date of Birth21 Jun 1897
Place of BirthDublin, County Dublin, Ireland
Zodiac signCancer
NationalityEnglish
EthnicityCaucasian
Children Jeffery Dench, Judi Dench, Peter Dench
spouseReginald Arthur Dench (m. 1924–1964)
Grandchildren Finty Williams, Emma Dench, Clare Dench, Sarah Dench

Who is Judi Dench’s mother?

Eleanora Olive Jones was born on 21 Jun 1897 in Dublin, County Dublin, Ireland. She was the daughter of Henry Jebb Jones and Jane (Simons) Jones and the sister of Johnston Alexander Jones and Otto Hamilton Jones. Judi’s parents parents met while studying at Wesley College, Dublin.

Eleanora Olive Jones married Reginald Arthur Dench on 22 April 1924, in Donnybrook, County Dublin, Ireland. The couple walked down the aisle in a beautiful wedding ceremony in the presence of their friends, families, and loved ones. They were the parents of three children- Judi and her brothers- Jeffery Dench and Peter Dench.

ALSO, READ; Reginald Arthur Dench: Who was Judi Dench’s father?

While her husband was a doctor and the GP for York Theatre, she was its wardrobe mistress, and the actors often stayed at the Dench household. Through her parents, Judi had regular contact with the theatre. Though she initially trained as a set designer, she became interested in drama school as her brother Jeff attended the Central School of Speech and Drama.

There is little information about her mother but what we do know is that she was much loved by her family and friends. According to the Mirror, Judi never met any of her mother’s relations

After digging into her family’s heritage, Judi Dench discovered that she has links to both Danish and Swedish royal families. “I had no idea about any of that,” she admitted while being shocked. “Or even that we had any Danish connections, but this I have found out is my mother’s family and now of course I want to explore it further. And now I believe there are Swedish connections too, this may well prompt a visit there as well!”

ALSO, READ; Finty Williams: Who Is Judi Dench And Michael Williams’ Daughter?

She also found out that her maternal ancestor was a lady in waiting in the Danish royal family, as well as having links to William Shakespeare’s play Hamlet. “I hope my maternal eight times Grandmother liked Shakespeare otherwise she might have given the evening a miss! But knowing that [one of the early actors in Shakespeare’s plays] Will Kempe visited the castle and presumably performed there does make me feel that I have got a step nearer to my beloved Shakespeare.“

Judi’s first experience of the theatre was at the age of seven watching her eldest brother Peter in Macbeth, before she made her professional debut in 1957 playing Othelia in Hamlet at the Old Vic.

ALSO, READ; Peter Dench: What happened to Judi Dench’s brother?

What happened to Eleanora Olive Jones?

Judi Dench’s mother died in March 1983, in Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England, at the age of 85. The cause of her death has not been made known to the public.

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