A sell-out audience at Winchester’s Theatre Royal saw Dame Judi Dench tread the boards in a fundraiser for the charity Home-Start Winchester.

Judi’s friend and biographer John Miller from Bishop’s Sutton was in the chair asking the questions.

Her reminiscences ranged from her very early days playing Anya in The Cherry Orchard, under the tutelage of Sir John Gielgud, to her latest film Belfast, about the early life of Kenneth Branagh. Both men were equally adored by Judi for their work ethic and dedication to their craft.

She recalled a “farting horse” she had to ride as Queen Victoria. By her side, as John Brown, was Billy Connolly, who asked cheekily: “Was that you?”

Judi described having to swim in pantaloons and a floppy hat, with wet suit beneath, in a freezing Solent at the end of October, and how parts of Osborne House were closely guarded by English Heritage, with the cast having to step over the corners of fragile carpets during filming.

Judi’s daughter Finty played one of Queen Victoria’s daughters in Mrs Brown, and Judi described her pride at seeing her star in Pack of Lies at the Menier Chocolate Factory in a role she played many years before alongside husband Michael Williams.

A great mimic, Judi described how Clint Eastwood never conformed to the “action” and “cut” school of direction, preferring “in your own time” and “stop”, and she produced his low rasping growl perfectly.

Judi played MI6 boss M eight times in Bond films, but confessed: “I never understood what Quantum of Solace was all about!”

Home-Start Winchester chairman Barry Page said: “We are so grateful to Dame Judi for giving of her time to support Home-Start, and for John Miller’s help in making it happen.”