by Judi Dench
First published 2014
Dame Judi Dench opens her personal collection to reveal the woman behind decades of celebrated performances. Starting with her teenage years performing in York theaters, she traces her journey through the roles that defined her career. She reflects on playing the sharp-witted M in James Bond films and winning an Academy Award for her portrayal of Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. Dench shares never-before-seen photographs alongside candid stories about the family members, directors, writers, and fellow actors who shaped her life. She discusses recent projects including The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Philomena, Masterpiece Theatre's Cranford, and her stage return in Peter and Alice. This memoir continues where her previous bestseller ended, offering readers direct access to her thoughts on craft, collaboration, and her unwavering passion for acting. At its heart, the book captures her simple declaration that she wants to keep performing, even if she needs to be wheeled onto the stage.
Genres: biography, 20th-century, autobiography, memoir, non-fiction, biography-memoir, 21st-century, film
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, personal-journey
Period: 20th-Century, 21st-Century
272 pages · Hardcover · Weidenfeld & Nicolson