It's in the Words: Dame Judi Dench and Shakespeare by Theresa Gauthier

 Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench

When I found out about this book I was obsessed with reading it. When the chance fell in my lap, I didn’t hesitate. Dame Judi Dench is an English actress famous as much for her stage work playing Shakespeare as for her work as M in the James Bond films. She’s appeared in at least sixty films, close to 100 plays, television, and even voicing her James Bond character in video games. 

Dench has written many books over the course of her career, and I’ve read some of them. Her latest, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, is the sort of book you hear about and wonder why it’s only now being published. This seems like the sort of no-brainer idea for a book that publishers would leap over each other to get into production. 

The premise is simple enough. It’s written conversation style with fellow actor Brendan O’Hea prompting her, asking questions, and sometimes even watching films of Dame Judi Dench appearing in Shakespearean plays. The result is a compelling and quick read delving deep into the details of Shakespeare’s and Judi Dench’s work.

Reading her comments—which I inevitable read with her voice in my head—about not only the plays themselves, but also about the language, the theaters, the Old Vic Company, The National Theatre Company and the Royal Shakespeare Company was a beautiful experience bringing to life so much history of theatre.

Even better was being privy to her opinions on the language, the way you can and can’t act, the thought process behind her choices, and even the times when she believed she’d chosen wrong. 

I keep imagining I heard her read it since her “voice” in the narrative was so strong, and I was able to “hear” her voice in my head. Thanks to the internet, I’ve seen her perform snippets of Shakespeare here and there—mostly on talkshows or videos—and learning her opinions on Shakespeare, the plays, the language made the plays more alive to me than ever before.

Reading this made me brush off my old Riverside Shakespeare so I could page through some of the plays she’s been in and read more of the passages imagining her voice as I read the parts she’s played. 

Whether you’re a novice in the world of Shakespeare and looking for an entry point, or you’re a longtime scholar, this book capturing Judi Dench’s unique perspective is a must for your library.