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Dame Judi Dench has paid tribute to mother and baby homes survivor and campaigner Philomena Lee, describing her as a \u201cremarkable person\u201d.<\/p>\nDame Judi Dench has paid tribute to mother and baby homes survivor and campaigner Philomena Lee, describing her as a \u201cremarkable person\u201d.<\/p>\n
The Oscar-winner portrayed Ms Lee in the 2013 film Philomena, which documented her 50-year search for her forcibly adopted son, Anthony.<\/p>\n
Ms Dench was commenting after the release of a report into the lives of women and children who lived at the homes for unmarried mothers between 1922 and 1998.<\/p>\n
She told the BBC: \u201cI was lucky enough before filming to meet Philomena.<\/p>\n
\u201cI got to know her, a very, very remarkable person.\u201d<\/p>\n
The homes, operated by the Catholic Church and funded by the State, were subject to a five-year investigation, the results of which were published this week.<\/p>\n
On Wednesday, Taoiseach Miche\u00e1l Martin apologized to the survivors of the homes.<\/p>\n
Ms Dench said on today: \u201cI feel as if I know the very tip of the iceberg of all this.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can\u2019t imagine, to get an apology all this time later from the Taoiseach.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose it goes a little way to the heart-rending pain of all those mothers who never knew what happened to their children, and have spent their whole lives, not knowing.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn Philomena\u2019s case, she searched for Anthony and eventually found him after terrible years of pain and not knowing.<\/p>\n
\u201cI just can\u2019t imagine.<\/p>\n
\u201cI suppose, an apology goes some way to somehow putting things slightly at rest after such a long time.\u201d<\/p>\n
The film Philomena, in which Dame Judi starred alongside Steve Coogan, shone a light on the long search for answers many survivors have had to endure.<\/p>\n
She said: \u201cI hope it drew attention to what happened\u2026 and the plight of so many women.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said survivors had been calling for \u201csome kind of recognition of the pain that they suffered for years and years and years.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd still not knowing where their children went.\u201d<\/p>\n
When he was adopted, I cried the whole weekend. They took him away a week before Christmas<\/p>\n
Ms Lee, originally from Co Limerick, lived with her son Anthony in a mother and baby home until he was three years old, when he was adopted by a wealthy American couple and renamed Michael Hess.<\/p>\n
Speaking to RT\u00c9 on Tuesday, Ms Lee said: \u201cI used to teach him little songs and things.<\/p>\n
\u201cThree and a half years and then just to be snatched away.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey told me, \u2018Your son is going to be adopted\u2019, just like that.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen he was adopted, I cried the whole weekend.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey took him away a week before Christmas.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Lee recalled being told to be \u201cgrateful\u201d that her son was going to a \u201cgood Catholic home\u201d.<\/p>\n
Reflecting on the release of the report, she said: \u201cIn a way, I\u2019m glad that it\u2019s come to the fore once again.\u201d<\/p>\n
She said it had given other survivors \u201ca chance to come forward and be able to find out so much about themselves.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were never given any information at all.<\/p>\n
\u201cI never had any information after I left it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ms Lee added: \u201cSometimes I think, too, there should have been an apology from the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cThere should be an apology from the church.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat would help a little bit, I think \u2013 it would ease some of the sadness.\u201d<\/p>\n