Judi Dench has confirmed she'll be back as James Bond's boss in the much-anticipated 23rd 007 adventure.

The British thespian has played MI6 boss M in six Bond films and she'll return for her seventh this year.

She says, "I'm looking forward hugely to working with Daniel (Craig) again and with (director) Sam Mendes, who I've only ever worked with in the theater."

The new Bond film is expected to go into production later this year and will hit cinemas in November, 2012.