Editing Judi Dench (section)

===Political views and interests===
Dench has worked with the non-governmental indigenous organisation [[Survival International]], campaigning in the defence of the [[San people]] of [[Botswana]] and the [[Arhuaco|Arhuaco people]] of [[Colombia]]. She made a supporting video saying the San are victims of tyranny, greed and racism. Dench is also a patron of the [[Karuna Trust (UK)|Karuna Trust]], a charity that supports work amongst some of India's poorest and most oppressed people, mainly, though not exclusively, [[Dalits]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.karuna.org/about-us/people/dame-judi-dench/|title=Dame Judi Dench, Patron of the Karuna Trust|publisher=karuna.org|access-date=20 February 2014}}</ref>

On 22 July 2010, Dench was awarded an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters (DLitt) by [[Nottingham Trent University]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/news/98814-15/Stars_of_stage_and_screen_among_honorary_graduates_of_Nottingham_Trent_University.aspx|title=Stars of stage and screen among honorary graduates of Nottingham Trent University|publisher=Ntu.ac.uk|access-date=4 September 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100827062254/http://www.ntu.ac.uk/apps/news/98814-15/Stars_of_stage_and_screen_among_honorary_graduates_of_Nottingham_Trent_University.aspx|archive-date=27 August 2010|url-status=dead}}</ref> The [[Dr Hadwen Trust]] announced on 15 January 2011 that Dench had become a patron of the trust, joining, among others, [[Joanna Lumley]] and [[David Shepherd (artist)|David Shepherd]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.drhadwentrust.org/smartweb/latest-news/news-and-views/post/26-dame-judi-dench-announced-as-patron-of-the-dr-hadwen-trust|title=Dame Judi Dench announced as Patron of the Dr Hadwen Trust|date=15 January 2011|publisher=Drhadwentrust.org|access-date=4 September 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007161813/http://www.drhadwentrust.org/smartweb/latest-news/news-and-views/post/26-dame-judi-dench-announced-as-patron-of-the-dr-hadwen-trust|archive-date=7 October 2011}}</ref> On 19 March 2012, it was announced that Dench was to become honorary patron of [[Everton in the Community]], the charity branch of [[Liverpool]]-based football team Everton, of which she is a long-time supporter.<ref name="EITC" />

Dench is an advisor to the [[American Shakespeare Center]]. She is a patron of the [[Shakespeare Schools Festival]], a charity that enables school children across the UK to perform Shakespeare in professional theatres.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons#dame-judi-dench |title=Patrons: Dame Judi Dench|publisher=[[Shakespeare Schools Foundation]] |access-date=22 December 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171211165434/https://www.shakespeareschools.org/about-us/patrons#dame-judi-dench |archive-date=11 December 2017}}</ref> She is also a patron of [[Shakespeare North]], a playhouse project due to be completed in 2022 in the town of [[Prescot]], near Liverpool.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.shakespearenorth.org/a-letter-to-liverpool-from-dame-judi-dench/ |title=A Letter to Liverpool from Dame Judi Dench |publisher=[[Shakespeare North]] |access-date=12 September 2018 |archive-date=12 June 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612142523/http://www.shakespearenorth.org/a-letter-to-liverpool-from-dame-judi-dench/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> She is patron of East Park Riding for the Disabled, a riding school for disabled children in [[Newchapel, Surrey]].<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/East-Park-Riding-Disabled-Association-open/story-12854255-detail/story.html|title=East Park Riding for the Disabled Association is open for business|date=5 July 2011|work=East Grinstead Observer|publisher=Northcliffe|access-date=19 August 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130506072351/http://www.thisissussex.co.uk/East-Park-Riding-Disabled-Association-open/story-12854255-detail/story.html|archive-date=6 May 2013|url-status=dead}}</ref> Dench is also a vice-president of the national charity Revitalise, which provides accessible holidays for those with disabilities.<ref>{{cite web|title=Vice Presidents|url=http://revitalise.org.uk/meet-team/?role=18#roles|website=Revitalise|access-date=10 August 2016}}</ref> In 2011, along with musician [[Sting (musician)|Sting]] and billionaire entrepreneur [[Richard Branson]], she publicly urged policy-makers to adopt more progressive drug policies by decriminalising drug use.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-13625241 |title=Dame Judi Dench and Sting head drug rethink call |publisher=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |date=2 June 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.metro.co.uk/news/865135-judi-dench-and-sting-post-letter-to-pm-urging-decriminalisation-of-drugs |title=Judi Dench and Sting post letter to PM urging decriminalisation of drugs |work=[[Metro (British newspaper)|Metro News]] |date=2 June 2011 |access-date=12 September 2018}}</ref>

In 2014, Dench was one of 200 celebrities to sign an open letter to the people of Scotland asking them to vote to remain part of the UK in [[2014 Scottish independence referendum|that year's referendum]].<ref>''[[The Daily Telegraph|The Telegraph]]'', 10 August 2014</ref>

In a 2022 opinion piece for ''[[The Times]]'', following the death of [[Queen Elizabeth II]], Dench expressed criticism of the [[Netflix]] show ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]'', accusing it of "crude [[sensationalism]]" and being "cruelly unjust to the individuals and damaging to the institution they represent," as well as having the potential to mislead non-British viewers through dramatic license. She furthermore argued the show should add a disclaimer warning to remind viewers that it is a fictional drama.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-63326250 |title=The Crown: Dame Judi Dench accuses Netflix hit of 'crude sensationalism' |publisher=[[BBC News Online|BBC News]] |date=20 October 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/2022/11/11/1136071036/the-crown-queen-elizabeth-king-charles-diana |title=Heavy is the head that does not like 'The Crown' |publisher=[[NPR]] |date=11 November 2022}}</ref> In 2023, Dench and her partner David Mills were both invited to ride in [[King Charles III]]'s [[Royal Ascot]] Procession.<ref>{{cite web |title=Ascot Racecourse on Twitter |url=https://twitter.com/Ascot/status/1672199380139425792 |website=[[Twitter]] |access-date=29 June 2023}}</ref>