Actress Judi Dench at Penryn Asda store in Cornwall

Rounding the corner of the cereal aisle was none other than Dame Judi Dench, whose many acting roles include M, the head of MI6, in no fewer than eight James Bond films between 1995 (GoldenEye) and 2015 (Spectre).

It’s not clear what was on the shopping list for the actress, who once joked that ‘lobster and Champagne’ was her favourite supper.

However, the Yorkshire-born actress caused quite a stir for both customers and staff.

Despite being internationally recognisable, and widely considered one of Britain's greatest actresses – turning her hand to everything from Shakespeare on stage to sending herself up with Morecambe and Wise – the 88-year-old was happy to pose for pictures.

Dressed casually in comfortable grey trousers, a white shirt and grey knitted cardigan, Dame Judi smiled widely at the camera, joined by Asda staff.

Also posing for the picture was Kay Rundle, who couldn’t believe her luck when she went to pick up a few bits after her shift at work and bumped into one of her favourite actresses.

Dame Judi was all smiles as she posed for a photo (Image: TrewCare)

Still dressed in her TrewCare Ltd uniform, the “starstruck” Kay was able to say a few words to the actress, describing it as “an incredible privilege.”

Fellow TrewCare carer Katy Wallis told the Packet: “Kay said Judi was super friendly. She told Judi that she was her hero, she loved the Bond films, and when she died in Skyfall she [Kay] was so upset.

“Kay said she was so kind and her eyes said it all.”

Judi Dench made her professional debut in 1957 with the Old Vic Company. Over the following few years, she played in several of Shakespeare's plays in such roles as Ophelia in Hamlet, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth.

Over her 66-year career to date, she has also appeared in films ranging from Shakespeare in Love and Philomena to The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel and Ladies in Lavender, much of the latter being filmed here in Cornwall.