Judi Dench has officially joined the cast of the BBC miniseries, The Hollow Crown: The War of The Roses. Her role? Cecily, Duchess of York, who will appear next to Richard III in the series, played by Benedict Cumberbatch. The series is an adaptation of William Shakespeare’s history plays concerning the War of the Roses, namely Henry VI (part one and two) and Richard III.
“This extraordinary cast and production team will raise the bar of British drama once more,” controller of the series Ben Stephenson said according to the BBC.
He was echoed by the executive producer, Pippa Harris, who added: “To have the chance to work with some of Britain’s most talented actors is a dream come true. We couldn’t be more delighted to have them on board.”
The first Hollow Crown series adapted Shakespeare’s Richard II, Henry IV (parts 1 and 2), and Henry V. They aired in July 2012.
The Hollow Crown: The War of The Roses is not the only sequel Dench has up her sleeve. The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is set to come out March 6th, 2015 in the United States. According to the movie’s website, it takes place in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for the Elderly and Beautiful where Dench plays opposite Bill Nightly who both “have now joined the Jaipur workforce, and are wondering where their regular dates for Chilla pancakes will lead”.
Staying politically relevant as well, Judi Dench joined several other British celebrities in an open letter encouraging Scotland to remain in the United Kingdom. “The decision on whether to leave our shared country is, of course, absolutely yours alone,” the letter reads, “Nevertheless, that decision will have a huge effect on all of us in the rest of the United Kingdom. We want to let you know how very much we value our bonds of citizenship with you, and to express our hope that you will vote to renew them. What unites us is much greater than what divides us. Let’s stay together.”