Judi Dench speaks of grief after Maggie Smith's death

Dame Judi Dench has spoken about her grief after the death of her close friend, fellow Dame Maggie Smith, who passed away last week.

The star was asked about Dame Maggie on stage during the Cheltenham Literature Festival by fellow actor Brendan O'Hea.

O'Hea also mentioned the death of Dame Judi's husband, the actor Michael Williams, and then asked her what she had meant when she had once compared grief to petrol.

"I suppose because the energy that's created by grief...," she replied, before cutting her answer short, apparently lost for words.

Smith, best known for the Harry Potter films and Downton Abbey, was hailed as "a true legend" of stage and screen following her death at the age of 89.

Tributes were paid by King Charles III and the prime minister, as well as numerous co-stars from her long career.

The two veteran stars were the same age and had known each other for decades.

They had performed together on numerous occasions, including in the 2004 drama Ladies in Lavender.

Both starred in The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel in 2015, a comedy-drama that was a sequel to the 2011 hit film.

They also appeared in 2018 documentary Nothing Like a Dame, in which they playfully reminisced about their lives and careers.