Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith initially struck up their friendship in the 1950s before going on to star in numerous films together.

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.

Asked about grief in an interview at a literary event, Dench remembered her fellow British dame, who died Sept. 27

Dame Judi Dench and Dame Maggie Smith had been close friends since their time at the Old Vic theatre in London in the 1950s