Dame Judi Dench says aspiring actors and actresses are not being taught to project their voices

'I always say to students if you want to be an actor watch other actors'

Today’s aspiring actors and actresses are not being taught to project their voices, and will only learn from watching others, according to Dame Judi Dench.

One of Britain’s most celebrated actresses, Dame Judi said: “I think acting is always talked about and it shouldn’t be talked about, it should be done, and it should either be a success or not a success. Just get on, tell the story.”

Speaking on Radio 4’s Desert Island Discs, the Oscar-winning actress, 80, added: “I can help as far as learning how to use your voice and project, and goodness knows that’s a thing at the moment because I think that drama schools don’t teach actors to project any more, and of course in a lot of theatres now you get a mic. We never did.”

Dame Judi said: “We learned that the person sitting in the back seat of the upper circle is the person you play to. And I always say to students if you want to be an actor watch other actors, make up your mind about whether you like that or whether it conveys the story to you because only that way can you learn.”