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Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?: The long-awaited memoir from the beloved, award-winning British actress and icon
The Instant No.1 Sunday Times bestseller
We think we know the woman on the stage and on the screen – but who is she behind the scenes?
'You must read this book. Honestly, you'll be crying with laughter. It's brilliant' Alex Jones, The One Show
'Hijinks and humour' Daily Telegraph
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You might think you know Judi Dench. In a seven-decade career, she's been a spymaster, an Oscar-winning queen and has starred in musicals, blockbusters, tragedies and comedies. But what makes her tick? How did she become so successful and for so long? And why did her mother occasionally feel obliged to spray her with a garden hose?
Spend time in her company as Judi gradually starts to reveal herself, in collaboration with her friend and writing partner, Brendan O'Hea. With her actor's gift for storytelling, she takes us back to her upbringing in the parents who shaped her, the brother who encouraged her to act and the teachers who inspired her.
She tells of pranks, onstage and off, dissects her greatest screen roles and shares tales of her joyful marriage to actor Michael Williams, as well as her passion for nature and animals. From being locked out of the Oscars to almost coming a cropper to a pack of crocodiles in Borneo, Judi's life has been nothing if not adventurous. Just don't ask her to cook you a meal.
Funny, intimate, surprising, moving and over ninety years in the making, this is the story of Britain's most beloved actor.
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'Like any good Shakespearean she can slip easily between tragedy and comedy' Sunday Times
'One of Britain's greatest living actors tells her life story with charm and wit , detailing her journey from school nativity snubs to West End triumphs and Hollywood blockbusters' i
'Dench reveals the highs and lows of her brilliant career, including being fired from James Bond, a sex scene involving cream with Jeremy Irons, supper with Princess Margaret and being locked out of the Oscars. Just don't call her a national treasure - or mention retirement' The Times
'Her memories are pin-sharp, relayed through a prism of amused self-deprecation and passion for her job' Guardian
'I think what comes across is the commitment to laughter and the commitment to joy. I've greatly enjoyed it!' Emma Barnett, The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4
'If the book is a delight to read , it is because she is a delight. The reader comes away with a better grasp on how to approach life, and prepare for it's hurdles. For aspiring actors, meanwhile, the information contained within is priceless. We could all do with being a little bit more Judi' Independent
'Warm, witty and wonderfully candid, actor Dame Judi Dench's memoir is a glorious behind-the- scenes romp through an extraordinary life. From schoolgirl disappointments to Hollywood glamour, she shares hilarious mishaps , showbiz secrets, touching memories and plenty of self-deprecating humour. There's something wonderfully reassuring about hearing a national treasure admit to nerves and self-doubt too. A hugely enjoyable read for fans of theatre, film and great storytelling' Woman & Home
We think we know the woman on the stage and on the screen – but who is she behind the scenes?
'You must read this book. Honestly, you'll be crying with laughter. It's brilliant' Alex Jones, The One Show
'Hijinks and humour' Daily Telegraph
----------------------------
You might think you know Judi Dench. In a seven-decade career, she's been a spymaster, an Oscar-winning queen and has starred in musicals, blockbusters, tragedies and comedies. But what makes her tick? How did she become so successful and for so long? And why did her mother occasionally feel obliged to spray her with a garden hose?
Spend time in her company as Judi gradually starts to reveal herself, in collaboration with her friend and writing partner, Brendan O'Hea. With her actor's gift for storytelling, she takes us back to her upbringing in the parents who shaped her, the brother who encouraged her to act and the teachers who inspired her.
She tells of pranks, onstage and off, dissects her greatest screen roles and shares tales of her joyful marriage to actor Michael Williams, as well as her passion for nature and animals. From being locked out of the Oscars to almost coming a cropper to a pack of crocodiles in Borneo, Judi's life has been nothing if not adventurous. Just don't ask her to cook you a meal.
Funny, intimate, surprising, moving and over ninety years in the making, this is the story of Britain's most beloved actor.
--------------------------
'Like any good Shakespearean she can slip easily between tragedy and comedy' Sunday Times
'One of Britain's greatest living actors tells her life story with charm and wit , detailing her journey from school nativity snubs to West End triumphs and Hollywood blockbusters' i
'Dench reveals the highs and lows of her brilliant career, including being fired from James Bond, a sex scene involving cream with Jeremy Irons, supper with Princess Margaret and being locked out of the Oscars. Just don't call her a national treasure - or mention retirement' The Times
'Her memories are pin-sharp, relayed through a prism of amused self-deprecation and passion for her job' Guardian
'I think what comes across is the commitment to laughter and the commitment to joy. I've greatly enjoyed it!' Emma Barnett, The Today Programme, BBC Radio 4
'If the book is a delight to read , it is because she is a delight. The reader comes away with a better grasp on how to approach life, and prepare for it's hurdles. For aspiring actors, meanwhile, the information contained within is priceless. We could all do with being a little bit more Judi' Independent
'Warm, witty and wonderfully candid, actor Dame Judi Dench's memoir is a glorious behind-the- scenes romp through an extraordinary life. From schoolgirl disappointments to Hollywood glamour, she shares hilarious mishaps , showbiz secrets, touching memories and plenty of self-deprecating humour. There's something wonderfully reassuring about hearing a national treasure admit to nerves and self-doubt too. A hugely enjoyable read for fans of theatre, film and great storytelling' Woman & Home
- GenresMemoir
349 pages, Kindle Edition
Published October 22, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review
November 1, 2026
Thanks to NetGalley for the ALC
As this memoir is structured more like an intimate conversation (quasi-interview like), experiencing it in audiobook format is perfect; less a linear narrative of her life, and more conversations and reminiscences of various topics, from food preferences, theatrical anecdotes and family life.
The only drawback is that Judi Dench herself is not the voice narrating - nevertheless, Barbara Flynn does a good job in capturing her aura.
As this memoir is structured more like an intimate conversation (quasi-interview like), experiencing it in audiobook format is perfect; less a linear narrative of her life, and more conversations and reminiscences of various topics, from food preferences, theatrical anecdotes and family life.
The only drawback is that Judi Dench herself is not the voice narrating - nevertheless, Barbara Flynn does a good job in capturing her aura.
Displaying 1 - 1 of 1 review