Dame Judi Dench is considering getting a tattoo to mark her 80th birthday.

She said: "Finty’s very keen on me having one.

“There’s an Indian symbol that I like which supposedly represents life and love and everything.

"One of the cameramen who worked on 'The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel' told me what it meant, but I’m a bit nervous in case I’m being set up. It might be unbelievably rude.”

While the 'Esio Trot' star admits she has never gone under the knife to change her looks, she would love to get some work done to look like she's 39 years old but insists she is "too squeamish" and would lose out on too many roles.

She added to Good Housekeeping magazine: "I've never had anything cosmetic done to my face. Do I want to? Of course! I'd love to go right and now come back with completely smooth skin. I want everyone to say, 'You must be 39!'

"But I'm much too squeamish. I don't think I'm vain enough. It's not that I don't mind the lines, because I do, but just not enough to do anything.

“My agent would go barmy. I’d do myself out of the parts for old people.”