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allie_love's review against another edition
4.0
In 2006 I was studying Shakespeare abroad and happened to be in London when Dame Judi Dench was starring in Hay Market. I eagerly got tickets with two friends and watched the production in awe. It wasn't seeing Dame Judi in Shakespeare (I wish!) but seeing her on stage was electrifying. Lightening in a bottle. Even though she was in her seventies she was up and down the stairs of that set with agility and grace that made it impossible to tear your eyes away. She was funny, sophisticated, and amazing to see.
After the show we waited by the stage door, just hoping to glimpse her leaving even. A stagehand we chatted with warned us she liked to wait to leave to avoid a crowd if possible, but we were determined to stay. After awhile only a dozen or so of us remained and she exited the theatre. To our surprise she spoke with every single person who waited for her, pausing for autographs or photos with everyone who wanted one. She was so personable and listened intently to whatever you said (Gosh I wish I remember it all word for word now a decade later). As a theatre student I was just in awe. The photo I have of the two of us is so special to me, even if I do look a tad manic from my excitement. After she met with everyone she got into the back seat of her car, leaned her head back against the seat, and closed her eyes as the car sped off. Few stars of such caliber would be so gracious and I will never forget that.
I need to find her other autobiography or biography as the only issue I had with this book was that it left me wanting more. I did love the behind the scenes look of certain aspects and hearing personal stories of legends, but I definitely do want more!
After the show we waited by the stage door, just hoping to glimpse her leaving even. A stagehand we chatted with warned us she liked to wait to leave to avoid a crowd if possible, but we were determined to stay. After awhile only a dozen or so of us remained and she exited the theatre. To our surprise she spoke with every single person who waited for her, pausing for autographs or photos with everyone who wanted one. She was so personable and listened intently to whatever you said (Gosh I wish I remember it all word for word now a decade later). As a theatre student I was just in awe. The photo I have of the two of us is so special to me, even if I do look a tad manic from my excitement. After she met with everyone she got into the back seat of her car, leaned her head back against the seat, and closed her eyes as the car sped off. Few stars of such caliber would be so gracious and I will never forget that.
I need to find her other autobiography or biography as the only issue I had with this book was that it left me wanting more. I did love the behind the scenes look of certain aspects and hearing personal stories of legends, but I definitely do want more!
lory_enterenchanted's review
informative
reflective
3.0
Dench's reminiscences are fairly tame, not nearly as dishy and fun as Mary Rodgers's SHY, which I just read, but a pleasant peek behind the scenes with one of today's greats. It's more meaningful if one has seen the plays she discusses, but still interesting to me even if not. I didn't know that she was in Cabaret in London - the director told her not to worry that she wasn't a singer, nor was the character in the novel the show was based on - nor that she was originally slated to play Grizabella in Cats, but snapped her Achilles tendon. Her take on the Hollywood Oscars circus, which she got into after being nominated for Mrs Brown, is refreshing - she has a marvelous time while finding it all a bit crazy, especially when she won the award for Shakespeare in Love, "eight minutes with bad teeth." Wish I could have seen her in person once, but at least we have the films. I'd like to read the biography (this is meant as just a supplement).
gohawks's review against another edition
3.0
3 1/2 stars. Samantha Bond reads this one - a friend and younger contemporary of the Dame Judi. She does a spot on impression of her throughout. It basically follows her career including small insights into acting choices, practical jokes and working habits. It is certainly not comprehensive. But as a former working actor, it was an engaging book, and it made me interested to go back and see some of her movies.
skrau's review against another edition
4.0
Even though most of the book was about the theater and her career, with so little information about her personal life, this was a highly enjoyable read which still made me feel like I was getting intimate details. She seemed to jump around a lot and there's little explanation of the plays and characters she discusses, but the anecdotes and her thoughts on the part are still entertaining and endearing.
Although I would have loved more about her and her personal life, it's clear that her life, and her obvious enjoyment of life, so heavily involve her career and her calling in acting that what is included is still an intimate portrait of a wonderful woman, told in her voice.
Although I would have loved more about her and her personal life, it's clear that her life, and her obvious enjoyment of life, so heavily involve her career and her calling in acting that what is included is still an intimate portrait of a wonderful woman, told in her voice.
dooooot's review against another edition
2.0
I really admire Judi Dench and her work, but I'm not a theater buff. This book was filled with theater reminisces. Unfortunately, since I am not so familiar with all the plays that she references, I feel as if there was more enjoyment I could have gotten out of the reading if I were theater buff.
elusivesue's review against another edition
4.0
Since I love Dame Judi and almost everything she does on film or tv (I've only seen one play that she was in, so I don't want to say I love all the theatre work), it was a no-brainer that I would really enjoy a book in her voice. I also appreciated all of the color and bw pictures from her various roles. Definite must for any of her fans.