Her three preferred choices for the role of Willy Wonka in the film were Eddie Izzard, David Walliams and Dustin Hoffman, but she heartily approved of the casting of Johnny Depp.
She also founded the Roald Dahl Museum and Story Centre in Great Missenden, opened in 2005, which is devoted to storytelling and literacy.
She met Roald Dahl in 1972 while she was working as a set designer on an advert for Maxim coffee with the author's then-wife, American actress Patricia Neal.
In 1991, Dahl published Memories with Food at Gipsy House, a collection of anecdotes and recipes that she had written with her late husband.
[4] Dahl was appointed Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE) in the 2024 New Year Honours for services to philanthropy, literature and young people.