Animals are good for the soul: Judi Dench

Actress Judi Dench, who has previously cared for four cats, two guinea pigs, 12 water voles, two fish, a hamster and a pair of field mice, says being surrounded by pets is "good for the soul".

Dench told Stylist magazine that she has given her "breadstick-sized" goldfish Lazarus the "kiss of life" twice and she never ceases to be amazed by her, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

"I truly believe animals are good for the soul. One of my cats disappeared just before Christmas -- he just went off, he was very old. But I still have my daughter Finty's dog who lives with me and my legendary goldfish Lazarus," she said.

"I've had to give him the kiss of life twice, and he's still with us. That fish was the size of a finger when we got him. Now, he's bigger than a breadstick.

"Don't think for a second I'm exaggerating. I know because I had a bet with my daughter. I brought home a breadstick from the pub and Lazarus was the length of it and a little bit more," she added.

As well as being around her pets, the 80-year-old likes to relax by going window shopping with her daughter.

She said: "I love going shopping with Finty, we had a lovely day at Selfridges the other day. We 'hit' Selfridges. I didn't buy anything, but I looked. Lovely, it was."