Dame Judi Dench Shares New Book on Career Choices and Directing

Actors in Pinellas County and across the country can now read a new collection of conversations about the craft of acting. Dame Judi Dench has released a new book titled "Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It?" The work is published by St. Martin's Press. It comes out in hardcover, large print, ebook, and audio formats. The book serves as a companion to her previous works, including "And Furthermore" and "Behind the Scenes."

In the new release, Dench speaks with friend and fellow actor Brendan O'Hea. They revisit key moments in her career. The conversations range from her early work in Shakespeare to her role in the James Bond films. The text offers a look at how she approaches her professional life.

Dench explains that she does not always get to choose her parts. She notes that she never takes employment for granted. She cites advice from her late husband Michael Williams, who told her to act as if every job were her last. She says she still carries a fear of not being asked back. She points out that many talented actors are ready to step in at any time.

The actress describes her criteria for accepting a role. She says she is not good at choosing parts herself. When her husband was alive, he read scripts for her and she trusted his judgment. She prefers to have a director tell her the story rather than read a script on her own. She says this method allows her to be more objective. It helps her imagine herself as an audience member experiencing the work for the first time.

Dench recalls a meeting with director Stephen Frears for the TV drama "Going Gently." They walked around Holland Park to discuss the project. She enjoyed the lack of pressure during the conversation. In contrast, she describes director Howard Davies as cunning. He pitched the play "Mother Courage" to her at her home. He only mentioned the positive aspects of the role. He did not tell her that the character is in every scene and pulls a cart around the stage all evening.

She learned about the physical demands of the part only after the read-through. She notes that the character's mute daughter, played by Zoë Wanamaker, sat on the cart and stole the reviews. Dench says she uses the initial story to hold on to a bird's-eye view of the plot. This helps her stay focused once rehearsals begin and the details become complex.

Dench states that story is more important to her than the size of the role. She also values who she is working with. She cites her experience with director John Madden on the film "Mrs. Brown." She enjoyed the process so much that she wrote to him after the film was finished. She asked him to let her know if he had any other parts, no matter how small.

Madden wrote back and mentioned a small part that involved walking across the back of a shot. That part was Elizabeth I in the film "Shakespeare in Love." Dench says she accepted the role based on the relationship with the director and the appeal of the story. She notes that she previously enjoyed filming in Scotland for "Mrs. Brown," which influenced her decision to take that role as well.

The book is available for purchase starting this week. Readers can order the text from local bookstores or online retailers. St. Martin's Publishing Group holds the copyright for the 2026 release. The volume is co-authored by Dench and O'Hea.

An interview with Dench and O'Hea is scheduled for broadcast on "CBS Sunday Morning" on November 8. The segment will provide further insight into the themes discussed in the book. The interview is hosted by Seth Doane. Viewers can watch the episode on the network's regular schedule.