British actor Benedict Cumberbatch secured Dame Judi Dench for his Bbc adaptation of Richard III by inviting her to join the cast during a question-and-answer session at a U.K. literary festival.

The Bond actress took to the stage with director Richard Eyre to discuss her work in William Shakespeare's plays throughout her career during the Hay Festival of Literature and the Arts in Wales on Sunday evening (01Jun14).

The discussion was opened up to audience members, who were invited to ask questions, and there was a well-known star in the crowd who was keen to talk to Dench.

When the microphone was passed to Cumberbatch, the Star Trek Into Darkness actor asked Dench, "Would you like to be in Richard Iii with me?" to which she replied, "Yeah."

Reports suggest Cumberbatch wants Dench to play Queen Margaret in a Tv re-imagining of The Bard's classic, which is set to be shot next year (15).