Judi Dench Joins Chronicles of Riddick After Kayak-Sized Flower Gift

Massive Bouquet Arrives at Theatre

Dench wrote about receiving a massive bunch of flowers before Vin Diesel visited the Haymarket Theatre. The bouquet was so large that staff could not carry it up the stairs to her dressing room. They had to leave the arrangement at the stage door because it was as wide and long as a kayak. Dench joked that she is far too easily wooed by such grand gestures from big stars.

Previous Gifts Also Won Roles

This gesture was not the first time gifts convinced the ninety-one-year-old actress to accept a role. Kenneth Branagh once gave her an embroidered handkerchief with character initials when he asked for her in Murder on the Orient Express. She noted that Branagh is sneaky but she would do anything for him regardless of the request. Dench also listed other cast members like Olivia Colman and Johnny Depp who joined that same mystery drama project.

Character Role and Mixed Feelings

Convinced by the flowers, Dench played Aereon in the 2004 film to guide Riddick through his travels. She described her character as an elemental ambassador who helps rescue old allies from the Necromonger empire. Later she discussed playing Princess Natalia Dragomiroff in the 2017 mystery drama with mixed feelings about that specific part. She described that older character as someone who sat around with jewelry and kept two Shih Tzu dogs.