Dame Judi Dench shares touching tribute to late friend Dame Maggie Smith after star’s death

DAME Judi Dench has opened up about losing her dear friend Dame Maggie Smith - and revealed her heartfelt tribute.

Bond star Judi has spoken about the devastating loss of the Harry Potter star, 89, who died in September this year.

The 90-year-old star opened up in a new interview for a BBC tribute to her former co-star and revealed an emotional tradition she carries out in memory of her loved ones.

The Ladies in Lavender actress plants individual trees in memory of her late friends and family in the grounds of her private forest at her Surrey home.

The touching tree tribute extends to late friends Alan Rickman, Helen McCrory, Diana Rigg - and her late husband, Michael Williams.

Dame Judi shared that her gardener recently discovered the sapling she planted for Maggie had borne fruit.

Judi told the BBC: "Joe, who works for me, came in and he had one little crab apple.

"And so I had it in my pocket at her funeral, which was a very nice thing to have."

It comes after Maggie passed away aged 89 on September 27, after an incredible 70-year career on stage and screen.

Maggie's death sparked an outpouring of grief from fellow thespians and Harry Potter fans around the world, with Huge Bonneville leading tributes to a 'true legend of her generation'.

Maggie had been friends with Judi since the 1950s after they met at the Old Vic theatre in London.

They went on to work with each other on several occasions, including in the 1984 film A Private Function and in 1999’s Tea With Mussolini.

The duo also co-starred in 2004’s Thirties-set costume drama Ladies in Lavender, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 2011, and its 2015 sequel The Second Best Marigold Hotel. 

However, their most famous collaboration was 1985’s A Room With a View.

Speaking at a tribute event for Dench back in 2002, Smith said: "What I remember mostly about that time, it was the beginning of a friendship, and I remember laughter more than anything in the world.

"Judi's the most tremendous friend. She's been a huge support and hugely loyal."

The actress has been open about her experiences with grief after tragically losing her husband Michael Williams, who was also an actor, more than 20 years ago.

The pair married in 1971 after co-starring in a theatre production of The Duchess of Malfi, and had a daughter, Finty.

After losing Williams to lung cancer, Judi admitted that she forced herself to work as it 'helped me cope with the pain'.

Judi has since been with her partner wildlife conservationist David Mills since 2010.