Judi Dench says filming TikTok videos with grandson ‘saved her life’ during lockdown

Actor has taken part in socially distanced and virtual dance videos

Dame Judi Dench has praised TikTok for “saving her life” during coronavirus lockdown.

The actor regularly features on the TikTok page of her 23-year-old grandson Sam Williams, with the pair taking part in a number of social distanced and virtual dances together.

Speaking to Channel 4 News, Dench said the video platform has given her a new lease of life during the pandemic, saying: “Well, it saved my life.

“I know nothing about TikTok. Sam is the person who is technically minded and who has all the ideas, so he got very strict. He made me do it. I had to rehearse, I had to rehearse all those moves. Don’t just think that comes naturally.”

After the presenter told Dench she was “very good at it”, the actor replied: “Well I’m delighted to hear, I’m really really pleased. I hope I’m asked to do more but, of course, I can’t ask for the part.”

Asked what she meant when she said TikTok had saved her life, Dench admitted that she had found lockdown to be a particularly lonely time.

“Every day is so unchartered,” she said. “You wake up and wonder what day it is, and then you wonder what date it is, and sometimes what month. And then you think, ‘What do I do today?’ and if the prospect is, ‘Well, what is there to do today?’ I’ve done a bit of painting and I’ve talked to friends and rehearsed my TikTok and done it with Sam.”

@sam.williams1

Not quite sure why TikTok took this down... Like Grandma, Like Grandson ##fyp ##fy ##dance ##foryou ##famousrelative ##judidench ##jamesbond ##m

♬ original sound – sam.williams1

In March, a video of Dench wearing a hat with moveable bunny ears while telling people to “keep laughing” throughout lockdown went viral.