Judi Dench Seizes the Day With Birthday Tattoo

Once, as a practical joke, Judi Dench had a fake tattoo of Harvey Weinstein’s name applied to her derrière.

The spunky English actress credited the studio head for reviving her career in the U.S. via Weinstein titles like Chocolat, Iris, Mrs. Henderson Presents, and Notes on a Scandal—all of which earned her Oscar nominations—and Shakespeare in Love, for which Dench won the supporting-actress Oscar, in 1999. Committed to the performance—when is she not?—Dench unveiled the faux ink at the Four Seasons over lunch with Weinstein and Charlie Rose. Recalled the actress, “I’ve never seen a man more embarrassed.” But now, at the age of 81, Dench has gone ahead and gotten a tattoo for real.

She did not get Weinstein’s name immortally etched into her arm, though. Instead, she got the words “carpe diem” inscribed on her wrist as a gift from her daughter, Finty Williams. In an interview with Surrey Life, Dench explained the ink: “That’s my motto: seize the day. Finty gave it to me for my 81st birthday—she’s wonderful with surprises.” Read more at Vanity Fair.