Judi Dench a fan of Dev Patel

London: Veteran actress Judi Dench has given her ‘The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel’ co-star Dev Patel a huge thumbs up, saying he`s the most energetic actor she has ever met.

The 77-year-old Oscar winner has become a fan of the ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ star and says she will be watching his career closely, reported Contactmusic. "He`s probably got more energy than any actor I`ve met in 56 years of being in the theatre. He is a powerhouse, like a very strong battery and he always wants to try new things; each take is never quite the same so it`s very, very exciting. Plus, he`s utterly delightful and I will watch his career fantastically closely," Dench said. The comedy-drama directed by John Madden also stars Celia Imrie, Bill Nighy, Ronald Pickup, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson and Penelope Wilton, and will hit theatres in India on May 18. PTI