Dame Judi Dench has spoken about her grief after the death of her close friend, fellow Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away last week. The star was asked about Dame Maggie on stage during the Cheltenham Literature Festival by fellow actor Brendan O'Hea.

A week after Maggie Smith‘s death, best friend Dame Judi Dench is at a loss for words. When asked about Smith’s death at age 89, as well as the death of friend and collaborator Barbara Leigh-Hunt, Dench broke down into tears during a conversation on Saturday at the Cheltenham Literature Festival.

The world is mourning the loss of yet another extraordinary talent as Dame Maggie Smith has sadly passed away at the age of 89.

Dame Judi Dench was moved to tears on Saturday after she was asked about her late friends Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.