Dame Judi Dench was moved to tears on Saturday after she was asked about her late friends Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.
The acting legend, 89, was being interviewed at the Cheltenham Literature Festival by Brendan O’Hea when he referred to them both.
Dame Judi became emotional as he said: “I know I probably shouldn’t bring this up, I know the last week has been tricky for you because you lost your great friends Maggie Smith and Barbara Leigh-Hunt.”
He also asked as to why she defined grief like petrol when she talked about her husband Michael Williams.
He died from lung cancer in 2001.
Dame Judi said: “I suppose the energy that’s created by grief…” before she broke down in tears.
Met backstage at the Old Vic
Maggie Smith died last week aged 89 and they had had a close friendship since the 1950s.
They first met backstage at the Old Vic theatre in London.
Smith, in a tribute event for Dame Judi back in 2002, said: “What I remember mostly about that time, it was the beginning of a friendship, and I remember laughter more than anything in the world.
“Judi’s the most tremendous friend. She’s been a huge support and hugely loyal.”
They had appeared together in the 1985 film A Room With a View, the 2004 drama Ladies in Lavender and the 2011 comedy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
Meanwhile, actress Leigh-Hunt and close friend to Dame Judi also died last month at the age of 88 and was the godmother to the latter’s daughter, Finty Williams.
Leigh-Hunt had appeared in the 1992 BBC sitcom As Time Goes By with Dame Judi.