Dame Judi Dench has revealed she is finding the sexual harassment scandal “very hard” as some of her “great friends” are among those accused.

The actress addressed the ongoing situation at the premiere of Murder on the Orient Express, telling reporters of her difficulty to stay close to those who have acted appallingly.

Speaking to Sky News she said: “It is scandalous, but it’s very hard when a lot of people concerned are great friends of yours too.

“I feel loyal to them and at the same time I feel appalled by what happened to a lot of young actresses who had no way of getting out of it.”

Dench – who plays Princess Dragomiroff in the murder-mystery – said the scandal is “getting a bit out of hand” and that people need to “behave better”.

Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Piven, Dustin Hoffman and Harvey Weinstein are among those who have had accusations levelled against them.

Dench previously worked with Weinstein on Mrs Brown, Philomena and Shakespeare in Love, for which she won an Oscar for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I.

She once claimed she was so close to the now disgraced Hollywood producer that she got a temporary tattoo of his initials on her bottom.

Her latest comments come weeks after she publicly condemned Weinstein, claiming she was “completely unaware” of the “horrifying” alleged sexual abuse offences.

Weinstein has been accused of harassment, assault and rape by scores of high profile actresses including Gwyneth Paltrow, Angelina Jolie and Rose McGowan. He has denied any claims of non-consensual sex.

Murder on the Orient Express premiere - in pictures 31 show all Murder on the Orient Express premiere - in pictures 1/31 Johnny Depp attends the premiere of Murder on the Orient Express Dave Benett 2/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 3/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 4/31 Sergei Polunin, Olivia Colman, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett/WireImage 5/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 6/31 Judi Dench Dave Benett 7/31 Simon Kinberg and Daisy Ridley Dave Benett 8/31 Kenneth Branagh Dave Benett 9/31 Willem Dafoe Dave Benett/WireImage 10/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett 11/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 12/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett 13/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett/WireImage 14/31 Willem Dafoe Getty Images 15/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 16/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett 17/31 Sir Derek Jacobi Dave Benett/WireImage 18/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 19/31 Judi Dench Dave Benett/WireImage 20/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 21/31 Leslie Odom Jr and Nicolette Robinson Dave Benett 22/31 Sergei Polunin Dave Benett 23/31 Kenneth Branagh Dave Benett/WireImage 24/31 David Mills and Judi Dench Dave Benett 25/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage 26/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 27/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 28/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage 29/31 Lucy Boynton Dave Benett 30/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 31/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage 1/31 Johnny Depp attends the premiere of Murder on the Orient Express Dave Benett 2/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 3/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 4/31 Sergei Polunin, Olivia Colman, Sir Derek Jacobi, Dame Judi Dench, Sir Kenneth Branagh and Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett/WireImage 5/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 6/31 Judi Dench Dave Benett 7/31 Simon Kinberg and Daisy Ridley Dave Benett 8/31 Kenneth Branagh Dave Benett 9/31 Willem Dafoe Dave Benett/WireImage 10/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett 11/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 12/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett 13/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett/WireImage 14/31 Willem Dafoe Getty Images 15/31 Penelope Cruz Dave Benett 16/31 Johnny Depp Dave Benett 17/31 Sir Derek Jacobi Dave Benett/WireImage 18/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 19/31 Judi Dench Dave Benett/WireImage 20/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 21/31 Leslie Odom Jr and Nicolette Robinson Dave Benett 22/31 Sergei Polunin Dave Benett 23/31 Kenneth Branagh Dave Benett/WireImage 24/31 David Mills and Judi Dench Dave Benett 25/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage 26/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 27/31 Olivia Colman Dave Benett 28/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage 29/31 Lucy Boynton Dave Benett 30/31 Michelle Pfeiffer Dave Benett 31/31 Daisy Ridley Dave Benett/WireImage

Murder on the Orient Express is in UK cinemas now.