Judi Dench is the latest name to be linked to Star Wars Episode 7 (Picture: Getty Images)

Judi Dench is rumoured to be up for the role of Mon Mothma in Star Wars Episode 7.

The actress, 79, has been tipped by Big Shiny Robot to play the rebel leader who helped co-ordinate the attack against the second Death Star.

As with most Star Wars rumours this should be taken with a healthy dose of salt but it does fit in with a cryptic tweet from El Mayimbe of Latino Review.

The writer tweeted: ‘HINT: A nominee currently on the awards circuit (including tonight) is up for a major role in STAR WARS EPISODE VII. Who can it be?’




MORE: JJ Abrams: Star Wars Episode 7 script is finished – full steam ahead

Will JJ Abrams be casting Judi Dench in the new Star Wars film? (Picture: AP Photo/Lucasfilm)

A whole host of actors and actress have been linked to Star Wars Episode 7 with JJ Abrams recently confirming that he has been in talks with Jesse Plemons even though the Breaking Bad star denied the rumours over the weekend.

But JJ revealed: ‘He is one of the actors that we’ve talked to but it’s not often that I read about actors that I’m going to be meeting.

‘I get to read articles about actors who are going to come in. And so I get to see someone and say, ‘Oh, I read that I was going to see you!”

Star Wars Episode 7 is due out on December 18, 2015.