Like many stars who have found love after a tragic loss, Judi Dench went through the trauma of losing her husband and later found love. But, like many big stars, she has chosen to not marry her long-time partner. Here’s why that is.

Judi Dench’s partner

David Mills is a conservationist, and the couple bonded over their love for the environment. They got together after he invited Dench to open a new red squirrel enclosure at the British Wildlife Centre in Newchapel, several years after she had declined an offer regarding a badger enclosure, as per Hello! Magazine.

As per Judi’s conversation with The Times, she said:

“I wasn’t even prepared to be ready for it… It was very gradual and grown-up. We got together, in a way, through the animals. It’s just wonderful.”

Judi’s take on the relationship

Judi has revealed in the past how she was in awful shape for years after her husband’s death, and how she was never in the mental place for a new relationship. That is, till David came along. But what is described as ‘unexpected’ by the Chocolat actress herself, a new romance blossomed with David, who she refers to as her ‘champ’.

In conversation with Mirror’s Notebook Magazine, Dench said the following.

“[I] never expected, not for a minute, that there would be anybody else in my life”.

“I’ve had many, many good friends, but it’s been very unexpected to have somebody who is as caring as my partner David. Someone to be able to share things with … I feel very lucky indeed.”

“To laugh with someone is terribly important. We laugh about everything,”

No wedding bells in sight for the couple

Despite being in a steady and stable relationship for over 13 years, the couple has no plans to live together or get married. This is considered quite unconventional given the generation Judi Dench is from, but the actor has always been ahead of her times. Be it the roles she chooses, or her personality, she always has a refreshing take when it comes to these kinds of things. In a conversation with Good Housekeeping Magazine, Judi said the following about why they have chosen to keep some aspects of their lives separate.

“We talked about [marriage] but I think we are far better off as we are as we have got two separate houses. And we are either in one or the other and we are four miles apart. He is not going to propose. No, no, no, no, no. Let’s just pull ourselves together and be our age!”

She also mentioned the following in her conversation with The Times, with regard to why she has chosen this approach to her long-term relationship.

“We are much too independent. And he is very busy. He has a business to run.”