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villianess's review against another edition
4.0
Another wonderful biography read by the writer. What was fun in this audiobook is the other characters that read into the book. I have always like "M" and knowing a little more about her life was a treat.
jacki_f's review against another edition
4.0
As Judi Dench explains in the preface, this book is not a traditional autobiography. Rather, it's intended to be a follow-up to her 1998 biography Judi Dench: With a Crack in Her Voice, filling in gaps and bringing us up to date with her life since that book was written. However I enjoyed it without having read that biography. It reads like you are sitting down with a cup of tea and enjoying a lengthy conversation with this very interesting lady. Dame Judi talks us through her career with passing asides about why she made a decision to play a part a particular way or how she'd do it differently now or a funny anecdote about a member of the cast. Because her career has been so extensive, there are times when the book seems to get bogged down in lists of plays she appeared in and who she worked with, but it's written in a sufficiently interesting way that it stays enjoyable.
There are revealing glimpses here and there, but for the most part Dame Judi remains reticent about disclosing too much about who she is or how she works. Near the end she says "why should (the public) know the ins and outs of everything?...I want to keep a quiet portion inside that is my own business". Which is interesting given that she openly confesses to being very nosy and liking knowing what's happening with everyone around her. There are fascinating sections where she describes her working routine or how she sometimes struggles to come to grips with characters, but then she backs away again, as if to say "that's all you're getting".
What does clearly emerge is her lively and mischievous sense of humor. She has an ongoing gag with Tim Piggott-Smith where they arrange to surprise one another (usually on stage) with the appearance of a black glove. She encourages her fellow castmates to slip Russian names into their lines during a production of The Cherry Orchard. She revels in a farting horse on the set of Mrs Smith. We also get glimpses of occasional diva like tendencies: dressing down journalists who ask inane questions or directors who expect her to learn new lines at short notice. She comments, "I can really be difficult when I want to be."
The focus is very much on Dame Judi's professional career. She mentions her husband often, but there is very little about their relationship or how his passing affected her (what she doesn't say somehow makes it more moving). In fact we learn very little of substance about any of her friends. There's no gossip here. If she doesn't like someone, she'll simply skip over them. So what do we get? Fascinating insights into the different ways that directors operate (a 23 year old Sam Mendes confidently tells her that the way she wants to play a scene won't work and he won't watch), how she interprets famous characters, the plays and theaters she likes and doesn't, how she motivates herself when she doesn't feel inspired. It's highly readable, extremely interesting and well worth a read.
There are revealing glimpses here and there, but for the most part Dame Judi remains reticent about disclosing too much about who she is or how she works. Near the end she says "why should (the public) know the ins and outs of everything?...I want to keep a quiet portion inside that is my own business". Which is interesting given that she openly confesses to being very nosy and liking knowing what's happening with everyone around her. There are fascinating sections where she describes her working routine or how she sometimes struggles to come to grips with characters, but then she backs away again, as if to say "that's all you're getting".
What does clearly emerge is her lively and mischievous sense of humor. She has an ongoing gag with Tim Piggott-Smith where they arrange to surprise one another (usually on stage) with the appearance of a black glove. She encourages her fellow castmates to slip Russian names into their lines during a production of The Cherry Orchard. She revels in a farting horse on the set of Mrs Smith. We also get glimpses of occasional diva like tendencies: dressing down journalists who ask inane questions or directors who expect her to learn new lines at short notice. She comments, "I can really be difficult when I want to be."
The focus is very much on Dame Judi's professional career. She mentions her husband often, but there is very little about their relationship or how his passing affected her (what she doesn't say somehow makes it more moving). In fact we learn very little of substance about any of her friends. There's no gossip here. If she doesn't like someone, she'll simply skip over them. So what do we get? Fascinating insights into the different ways that directors operate (a 23 year old Sam Mendes confidently tells her that the way she wants to play a scene won't work and he won't watch), how she interprets famous characters, the plays and theaters she likes and doesn't, how she motivates herself when she doesn't feel inspired. It's highly readable, extremely interesting and well worth a read.
careydnelson's review against another edition
4.0
Why yes I would like Dame Judi Dench to tell me theater stories today.
I recommend the audiobook version as I feel the anecdotal nature of the book is more suited to the format. I fell into the theater stories easily, but the glimpses of her diva nature were jarring. There really are people that full of themselves.
There is an economy of language to the way a classical actor relays stories. A novelist she is not. I found myself marveling at the bare words delivering clear and punchy images as if her entire life played out on a beloved sitcom set. As a fan and an actor I enjoyed this.
I recommend the audiobook version as I feel the anecdotal nature of the book is more suited to the format. I fell into the theater stories easily, but the glimpses of her diva nature were jarring. There really are people that full of themselves.
There is an economy of language to the way a classical actor relays stories. A novelist she is not. I found myself marveling at the bare words delivering clear and punchy images as if her entire life played out on a beloved sitcom set. As a fan and an actor I enjoyed this.
jenniferdenslow's review against another edition
4.0
Anyone who loves theater will appreciate how this memoir underlines the ephemeral nature of the art. Judi Dench as Lady Macbeth with Ian McKellan as Macbeth? Judi plays Cleopatra to Anthony Hopkins' Anotony? This book made me long to be a time traveler in the audience of England's great theaters to witness the performances she writes about here.
thegeekyblogger's review against another edition
4.0
Bought on Audible
What I Loved: Dame Judi Dench is one of those rare famous people that just don't strike you as famous at all. All of her stories reflect her beautiful personality and sparkling humor. She shares stories about her theater plays (of which you can clearly tell is her acting love and something she plans on doing until she cannot anymore), her time in movies, and her family. The best parts are how she speaks so lovingly of friends and family that she has had many years. She forms real bonds with people she works with and many of them have become life long friends. When she speaks of her family, you can tell her love overflowing and that makes you smile! Judi has really lead a very rich and wonderful life that I am so glad that she has shared with us.
What I Liked: She told stories about people you knew (Maggie Smith *squee*) and even people you did not. She brought you into the story so that you smiled when she smiled and got tears in your eyes during the sadder parts.
Complaints: None
Audiobook Review: Judi Dench does the forward of the audiobook then turns it over to her friend Samantha Bond. She does a wonderful job of telling Judi's stories! So much so that after a while you forget that you aren't listening to Judi herself.
Why I Gave it a 4: This is a wonderful addition to books about Judi Dench and I love that this one was from her. I wanted it to be longer but she covered so much of her career that she had to be exhausted at the end.
Who I would recommend this too: Fans of Dame Judi Dench
What I Loved: Dame Judi Dench is one of those rare famous people that just don't strike you as famous at all. All of her stories reflect her beautiful personality and sparkling humor. She shares stories about her theater plays (of which you can clearly tell is her acting love and something she plans on doing until she cannot anymore), her time in movies, and her family. The best parts are how she speaks so lovingly of friends and family that she has had many years. She forms real bonds with people she works with and many of them have become life long friends. When she speaks of her family, you can tell her love overflowing and that makes you smile! Judi has really lead a very rich and wonderful life that I am so glad that she has shared with us.
What I Liked: She told stories about people you knew (Maggie Smith *squee*) and even people you did not. She brought you into the story so that you smiled when she smiled and got tears in your eyes during the sadder parts.
Complaints: None
Audiobook Review: Judi Dench does the forward of the audiobook then turns it over to her friend Samantha Bond. She does a wonderful job of telling Judi's stories! So much so that after a while you forget that you aren't listening to Judi herself.
Why I Gave it a 4: This is a wonderful addition to books about Judi Dench and I love that this one was from her. I wanted it to be longer but she covered so much of her career that she had to be exhausted at the end.
Who I would recommend this too: Fans of Dame Judi Dench
darbar's review
3.0
I love Judy Dench, but this covered a lot of her early stuff, so I wasn't familiar with most of it.
redroofcolleen's review against another edition
3.0
Fun and insightful. What a glorious career she's had, with such variety. I was glad to learn that she's all I imagined her to be, save one thing: I never would have imagined her to be such a prankster. I love it!