Dame Judi Dench has revealed that she is thinking of an unusual way of marking her 80th birthday – with a tattoo.

The actress – who has previously teased Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein by pretending she had his name on her bottom – said her daughter Finty was supportive of the idea.

Judi Dench and her daughter Flinty
Judi Dench and her daughter Finty (Doug Peters/Doug Peters/EMPICS Entertainment)

Dame Judi, who celebrated her 80th last month, is considering a symbol from India – the location for her new film, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.

In an interview with Good Housekeeping magazine, she said: “I am tempted to have a tattoo to mark my birthday. 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.”

Judi Dench
Judi Dench (Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP)

In the March edition of the magazine, which goes on sale today, she also spoke about how she celebrated her big birthday. She said: “All I wanted was the people I love around me, I didn’t want a fuss. The words old, eight-oh and retire are banned in my house.”

The star – who bowed out of her recurring role as M in the James Bond movies after 2012′s Skyfall – said she has no plans to stop her acting career.

“The thought of putting my feet up doesn’t appeal at all – no no, no! I’ve got plenty of time for that at weekends or on odd days off. The prospect of no work on the horizon makes me a bit edgy. I have no particular ambitions – I just want to be employed!