She's a revered star of stage and screen with nearly 70 years' experience of treading the boards.

So it's fitting that a top West End theatre is being renamed to honour Dame Judi Dench.

From February next year, London's Shaftesbury Theatre will be called the Judi Dench Theatre.

The Oscar-winning actress, 91, who won many new fans playing M in eight James Bond films following an illustrious career including many acclaimed Shakespearean roles, said: 'The Shaftesbury Theatre has always held a special place in my heart. 

'To have this beautiful theatre renamed after me is truly overwhelming.'

The venue is owned by DLT Entertainment, which co-produced Dame Judi's 1990s BBC sitcom As Time Goes By.

Its chairman Donald Taffner Jr said: 'Dame Judi has been a close friend of the DLT family for so long, particularly from her involvement with As Time Goes By, and we will always treasure the time she made in her busy schedule to make the programme.' 

He added that he was 'delighted to recognise her extraordinary talent'.

Meanwhile, fellow Oscar-winner Cate Blanchett, 57, hopes to cause a 'creative rumpus' at Oxford University as she aims to encourage more students to take part in theatre. 

The Australian actress will be a visiting professor of contemporary theatre at St Catherine's College from the autumn.