Judi Dench recovers from surgery in time to promote 'Philomena'

(UPI) -- Dame Judi Dench stars in the upcoming film Philomena, the story of a woman searching for her long-lost son. It's receiving rave reviews from critics, in part because of Dench's predictably masterful performance as Philomena Lee.

In a recent interview with the Daily Mirror, the 78-year-old Oscar winner said she's so committed to her work in the film that she made sure she'd be ready for the premiere only six weeks after knee surgery.

“I have a completely new knee now. It’s brilliant," the actress told the Mirror on Friday. “When I had it done on September 6, I said to my surgeon ‘On October 16 I will walk up a red carpet unaided,' and so I did. You set your mind to a goal and go for it.”

“I’m not feeling my age at all," Dench said. "I am about 43, a tall willowy blonde 43-year-old with long legs. I don’t want to slow down at all. We don’t say the word retirement in our house. Old and retired are totally banned. Energy keeps me going."

It's a good thing she made it, because she would have missed a group of firefighters who were so happy to see her that they broke into chants of "We love you Judi."

According to the Guardian, the striking members of the Fire Brigades Union were in Leicester Square protesting pension cuts.