LONDON:

Veteran British actress Dame Judi Dench, who plays M in the James Bond movies, wants to leave the 007 franchise, reveals producer Barbara Broccolli, who is against her exit.

“She is the anchor of the film in terms of the character. She is the only authoritative figure in Bond’s life. She had such a great relationship with Pierce (Brosnan) on the screen and she has such a great relationship with Daniel (Craig). She is the real Bond girl! The one that keeps it all going, and I don’t want her to leave. She keeps threatening to leave but I will not let her,” Broccolo was quoted as saying by thesun.co.uk.

Dench first appeared as M in 1995 when Pierce Brosnan played Bond in Golden Eye. After that, she starred in seven more Bond movies. — HNS