LEGENDARY STARS JUDI DENCH, SIAN PHILLIPS BECOME FIRST WOMEN TO GET MEMBERSHIP AT THE GARRICK CLUB

In an interesting turn of events, Judi Dench and Sian Phillips have become the first women to get admitted to The Garrick Club, a prestigious member’s-only club which did not allow women to enter unless accompanied by a man. They have now become distinguished members of the club, rewriting its 193-year history. 

The actors were given fast-tracked membership during the club’s annual general meeting on July 1. As soon as their names came up, members applauded.

Why is it such a big deal?

The change came as the majority of members voted for the inclusion of women. 

As soon as the change came into effect, some other names popped up including the classicist Mary Beard, UK’s former home secretary Amber Rudd, the news presenter Cathy Newman and Ayesha Hazarika. However, membership of the club is a complex process and can take two to five years. For Judi Dench and Sian Phillips, the members expedited the process.

The UK club was founded in 1831 as a place for actors and patrons of the arts to meet. It was named after the 18th-century actor and playwright David Garrick. The club has members from leading lawyers, heads of publicly funded arts institutions, the deputy prime minister and King Charles. 

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Why chose Judi Dench and Sian Phillips?

Judi Dench’s membership is no surprise as she is an acclaimed film actress who we have also seen in theatres. From her works in the Royal Shakespeare Company to James Bond films, the 89-year-old joins the ranks of actors like Brian Cox, Benedict Cumberbatch and Matthew Macfadyen. Some of her award-winning works are Chocolat, Mrs Brown, Shakespeare in Love, Notes on a Scandal, Philomena among others. 

As for Sian Phillips, the 91-year-old has had an equally distinguished career in film, theatre and television. Some of her most notable works include her role in the classic BBC miniseries I, Claudius (1976) and as the Reverend Mother in the science fiction epic film Dune (1984). 

2024-07-02T08:07:44Z dg43tfdfdgfd