Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? - by Judi Dench & Brendan O'Hea (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea chat about her life on the stage, on the screen, and, above all, behind the scenes...

In Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? Judi Dench and Brendan O'Hea take us on a heartfelt and hilarious tour of her extraordinary life and career. From growing up in York and being miffed at not getting the part of Mary in the school Nativity play, to playing before sold-out houses on Broadway and in London's West End, she's done it all. She walked the red carpets of Hollywood, turned James Bond's M into the most astute, unflinching Head of MI6 anyone could ever have imagined, and won an Oscar, a Tony, Golden Globes, Oliviers, and BAFTAs along the way.

Yet despite the accolades, she has been accompanied by doubt. From the movie producer who said she had "everything wrong" with her face, to the theatre director who advised her against doing sitcom. Is it any wonder she leaves a bag by the rehearsal room door in case she has to make a run for it?

But stepping out of her comfort zone has been Judi's guiding principle and in Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, she reveals all to Brendan - her friend and writing partner. She tells stories of pranks (both onstage and off), dissects her greatest screen roles, shares tales of her joyful marriage to actor Michael Williams, and talks about her passion for nature and animals.

As told to Brendan O'Hea, this is Judi Dench's story - funny, honest, intimate, enlightening, surprising, moving, and deeply inspiring. Over ninety years in the making, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? is the story of the world's most beloved actor.

Review Quotes

"A delightful account of a life well-lived." -Kirkus (starred review)

"An absolutely delightful must-read for Dench's fans, theater and film aficionados, and anyone who relishes a well-told story." -Library Journal (starred review)

Praise for Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent

"A magical love letter to Shakespeare." -Kenneth Branagh

"A literary demonstration of how the iconic actor has lost none of her energy, flair, and fiery intelligence... Dench's memoir of the roles she has loved is a witty, thoroughly entertaining romp through the Shakespearean world." -Kirkus (starred review)

"...it's a mark of Dench's impish genius and O'Hea's deftness that it genuinely feels like you're sitting at her kitchen table with her. It's companionable and compelling - if you love Judi Dench or Shakespeare (and most of us do), look no further." -The Guardian

About the Author

Dame Judi Dench is one of the world's most celebrated actresses. She has won numerous major awards for work on both stage and screen - including an Academy Award, ten BAFTAs and a record eight Laurence Olivier Awards. In recognition of her many achievements, she received an OBE in 1970, became a DBE in 1988, and in 2005 was awarded a Companion of Honour.

Brendan O'Hea is a theatre director and an Associate Artist at Shakespeare's Globe. His work as an actor includes major roles at the National Theatre, RSC and fourteen productions for Shakespeare's Globe. As a director his work has been seen on stages across the UK and abroad, including nine productions for Shakespeare's Globe.