Judi Dench
Dame Judi Dench talks to John Wilson about her pivotal moments performing Shakespeare on stage and screen.
Dame Judi Dench reflects on her career playing Shakespearean roles on stage and screen across seven decades.
Judi Dench has spent her career bringing to life a hugely diverse array of characters. But she is, first and foremost, one of the greatest classical actors of our times. Her love of the work of William Shakespeare and the insight she has gained into his plays over the course of her career is explored in her new book The Man Who Pays The Rent, written with actor and director Brendan O'Hea.
In a special edition of This Cultural Life to mark the 400th anniversary of the publication of the First Folio in a 大象传媒 season of programmes celebrating Shakespeare, Dame Judi talks to John Wilson at her home in Surrey. With intimate insights into her relationship with the work of William Shakespeare, she recalls her pivotal experiences and influences that helped steer her career as one of Britain鈥檚 greatest classical actors. After seeing her older brother act in a school production of Macbeth, she knew Shakespeare was for her. She remembers her very first professional stage role, playing Ophelia in an Old Vic production of Hamlet in 1957. Despite bad reviews and losing the role when the production went on tour, she was undeterred. Joining the RSC, she worked her way through many of Shakespeare's plays, including a landmark production of Macbeth in 1976, directed by Trevor Nunn. Dame Judi recalls her Olivier award-winning performance of Lady Macbeth opposite Ian McKellen, and her later role of Cleopatra opposite Anthony Hopkins in 1987 at the National Theatre. Remembering her last stage appearance in a Shakespeare play, she discusses her dual roles of Paulina and Time in A Winter鈥檚 Tale, and how her degenerative eyesight condition affected her performance.
Producer: Edwina Pitman
On radio
Clip
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Judi Dench's surprising first acting role
Duration: 00:54
Broadcasts
- Sat 4 Nov 2023 19:15大象传媒 Radio 4
- Mon 6 Nov 2023 14:15大象传媒 Radio 4
- Christmas Day 2024 19:15大象传媒 Radio 4 FM
Podcast
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This Cultural Life
In-depth conversations with some of the world's leading artists and creatives.