Dench will be an Oscar no-show

Dame Judi Dench advised bettors Monday not to wager on her winning an Oscar this year, joking that not even the superstitious theatrical saying “Break a leg!” could bring her good luck as her leg really will be in a cast.

“Don’t put any money on me because you’ll lose,” Dench said at a good-humored news conference at the Berlin Film Festival when asked about the chances of winning best actress for her role in “Notes on a Scandal.”

The 72-year-old British performer, who won best supporting actress for “Shakespeare in Love” in 1998, said surgery meant that she would not be attending the Academy Awards on Feb. 25.

“The thing about the Oscars, it’s strange because in the theater you would say ‘Break a leg,’ ” Dench said. “I can’t because I’m to have a knee operation. I can’t go to the awards. I’m going to have my leg broken and put back together. I will watch and cheer from my bed.”