Britain's Judi Dench elicits complaints every time she talks tough in a film, the British Board of Film Classification said in its annual report. (POLFOTO, Jens Dige/Associated Press)

British actress Judi Dench garners complaints every time she talks tough in a film, the British Board of Film Classification said in its annual report.

"Almost every time Dame Judi swears in a film, regardless of its category, we can expect a number of complaints," said the BBFC, the body that certifies films, DVDs and games in Britain.

Four of the six viewers who complained about Quantum of Solace, a film with a 12A BBFC rating and several violent scenes, objected to Dench saying "pretty cold bastard," BBFC spokes woman Sue Clark told the Guardian.

Dench's character's off-colour remark in Stephen Frears' Mrs. Henderson Presents generated more complaints.

And so did her character's use of the c-word in Richard Eyre's Notes on a Scandal.

The BBFC has put it down to what it calls "the Judi Dench factor," a phenomenon that makes filmgoers less forgiving toward the actress who was named a national treasure in a recent British Library poll.

"This beloved actress plays M, Bond's tough-talking boss. However, it was her tough talking which upset viewers," the BBFC report said.

Clark said viewers "don't think it's appropriate for her to swear."

The BBFC recently updated its guidelines for the first time in four years, after consulting 8,700 filmgoers.

It now vets films for issues of race, gender, sexuality and disability prejudice, as well as violence, swearing and sexual context.