Is Dame Judi Dench Related to Shakespeare's Sister, Judith?

The connection between Dame Judi Dench and William Shakespeare, the famous English playwright, has long been a topic of curiosity and conjecture. This article aims to explore the possible lineage and connections between these two literary figures.

Shakespeare's Family and Descendants

William Shakespeare was born in 1564 in Stratford-upon-Avon and was the third child of John Shakespeare. He had three brothers and two sisters, but only one sister survived to adulthood: Joan (also known as Joan Hart). Another sister named Anne died in childhood, while a sister named Judith was stillborn with her twin Hamnet. The surviving sister, Joan Hamnet, has no known living descendants from her marriage to Thomas Quiney.

Judith Shakespeare and Her Twins

Shakespeare's sister Judith was well-known for her twin, Hamnet, who died at the age of 11. Judith and Hamnet were named for the Stratford couple, John and Agnes Shore, who were friends of the Shakespeare family. Virginia Woolf imagined an alternative history in her essay A Room of One's Own: what if Shakespeare had a sister named Judith who was just as talented? In Woolf's story, Judith would have overshadowed her brother in talent and fame, leading to a different literary legacy.

Claims of a Royal Connection

A popular, though unverified, claim suggests that Dame Judi Dench is related to Judith through a lady-in-waiting at the court of King Frederick III of Elsinore. This connection suggests that Judi Dench's ancestry includes royal lineage, which may add a layer of romance and intrigue to her relationship with Shakespeare. According to her, this kinship makes her feel closer to her beloved Shakespeare, given that one of William Shakespeare's favorites, Will Kempe, reportedly visited the Kronborg Castle, the castle of Elsinore, where the lady-in-waiting served.

The Great-Grandchildren of Adam and Eve

While the royal connection might be compelling, there is another humorous claim about Judi Dench's lineage. If we trace the genealogy back to the earliest known human beings, Adam and Eve, then all human beings would be related by such distant relatives. This idea, however, is purely speculative and not substantiated with historical or genetic evidence.

Conclusion

The true connection between Dame Judi Dench and Judah Shakespeare lies in the celebration of their shared love for literature and drama. Whether through Judith's sister's marriage to Will Kempe, or through distant familial ties to Adam and Eve, the true significance of the connection is found in the appreciation of the rich literary heritage that binds them together.

Related Keywords

Dame Judi Dench, Shakespeare, Judith Shakespeare, Kronborg Castle