Marcia Gay Harden implies Judi Dench ‘wasn’t so happy’ to lose to her at the Oscars

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Marcia Gay Harden appears to have implied that Dame Judi Dench “wasn’t so happy” after losing out to her at the Oscars 20 years ago.

In 2001, Harden was nominated in the Best Supporting Actress category for her role in the 2000 drama Pollock, which depicted the life of the painter Jackson Pollock.

The actor beat out big-hitters including Kate Hudson (Almost Famous), Julie Walter (Billy Elliot), Frances McDormand (Almost Famous) and Dench (Chocolat). 

Speaking about her victory, Harden told Vulture that one of her fellow nominees “wasn’t so happy” about the result, suggesting that the unnamed star she was referring to was Dench. 

“It just felt great,” she said. “And by the way, I felt the [other] girls were really happy for me as well. There was one I will not mention – but it wasn’t Kate – who seemingly wasn’t so happy.”

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Although Harden did not name any names, elsewhere in the interview she ruled out Walters as a possibility and specifically clarified that she is friends with McDormand, leading readers to believe the dissatisfied actor was Dench.

“I don’t want to say anything negative about anybody, honestly. It was my perception that somebody wasn’t so happy, but you never know what people have going on. Whatever,” she said.

The 61-year-old – who also starred in films such as Flubber, Mystic River and Space Cowboys – added: “However, I’m a big one for effusive congratulations. That’s who I am. I’m just so happy for other people in their wins and their glories. 

“For me, there’s plenty of room at the top. Sometimes you just accept that life rolls along and things come to you when they should.”