Judi Dench To Serve as Carnival Legend Godmother

Dame Judi Dench, one of England's most renowned stage and screen actresses, is to serve as godmother of Carnival Cruise Lines' newest ship, Carnival Legend. She will break the traditional bottle of champagne against the ship's hull in an official naming ceremony to be held August 21 in Harwich, England. The 88,500-ton, 2,124-passenger Legend is the first Carnival Cruise Lines vessel to sail a European itinerary. A long-time member of the Royal Shakespeare Company, Dench has been a star of the British stage since the late 1950s, appearing in dozens of Shakespearean and contemporary productions. She is equally well-known for her work in television and film, and currently is starring in the film adaptation of Oscar Wilde's play, "The Importance of Being Earnest." In recent James Bond movies starring Pierce Brosnan, she has played the role of M, Bond's boss. "It is an exciting privilege to have the legendary actress Dame Judi Dench serving as godmother to the Carnival Legend," said Carnival President Bob Dickinson. "We are truly fortunate to have a Briton of her stature to help us introduce Carnival Cruise Lines to the European cruise market." Awarded the Order of the British Empire in 1970, Dench was named a Dame Commander of the British Empire in 1988. Born and educated in York, she trained for the stage at the Central School of Speech Training and Dramatic Art. She was married to the late actor Michael Williams, and has one daughter, Finty, also an actress. Dench received the British Academy of Film and Television Arts award for Best Actress for her role in the television comedy series "A Fine Romance," in which she appeared with her husband Williams, and a BAFTA Best Actress nomination for her performance in the BBC series, "As Time Goes By." She was nominated by BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in "A Handful of Dust" and "A Room with a View." The actress received a Cable ACE Award for her performance in the A&E television production of "Mr. and Mrs. Edgehill," and she received a BAFTA Award and was nominated for an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Victoria in the 1997 film, "Mrs. Brown," and took home an Oscar for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 Tom Stoppard hit "Shakespeare In Love." Carnival Legend is scheduled to enter service August 24 with a 12-day Northern European voyage round-trip from Harwich (near London) followed by a 15-day transatlantic crossing departing Harwich September 5 and arriving New York September 20.