Judi Dench's Memoir Sold 250,000 Copies in First Week

Judi Dench’s new memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, sold 250,000 copies in its first week of release, a figure that publisher Hachette Book Group confirmed in a statement to investors on Monday.

The book is a collection of conversations between Dench, now 91, and her friend of 30 years, actor Brendan O’Hea. The format captures their dynamic directly, moving away from traditional biographical structure. Dench, who suffers from macular degeneration that has left her nearly blind, discussed the physical toll of aging while maintaining that her command of language remains sharp.

The memoir traces a career that began in 1957 when Dench played Ophelia at London’s Old Vic Theatre. Her first leading film role did not arrive until 40 years later in Mrs. Brown. Despite the delay, Dench has maintained a strong preference for live theater over cinema. She values the nightly opportunity for a cast to refine a performance, a process she contrasts with the finality of a film director calling cut.

Early in her career, a film producer told Dench that she had every single thing wrong with her face. She recalled walking out of that meeting and returning to the Old Vic. Dench said the criticism may have lodged in her subconscious, helping to reduce her vanity. "I suppose my insides have dealt with it," she admitted. That persistence contributed to her becoming one of cinema’s most recognizable faces, earning eight Academy Award nominations. She won one for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love. She is also known for portraying M, the head of MI6, in eight James Bond films.

O’Hea noted that working on the book revealed Dench’s mischievous nature was present in her childhood, shaped by her Quaker faith and a happy family life. Dench agreed, describing her upbringing as a great luck. In her home in England, she has planted trees to honor friends and family, including her late husband, actor Michael Williams, and the late actress Maggie Smith. She planted a crabapple tree for Smith, citing the late actress’s wit.

Dench remains active in cultural events, though her vision limits her professional availability. She admitted she can no longer take on new roles due to her condition. However, her memory for text remains intact. She can recite an hour of Shakespeare from memory. Recently, she demonstrated this ability by flawlessly delivering lines from Antony and Cleopatra.

The actress also discussed her social life, including a recent lunch with Pierce Brosnan. The two discussed how frightened they had been when filming their first Bond movie together. Dench attributed that feeling to the weight of responsibility in the role. She noted that Brosnan enjoyed her doormat, which greets visitors as Mr. Bond.

Next, Dench is scheduled to attend the launch party for the audiobook version of her memoir in London on November 12. The event will feature readings by O’Hea and Dench, though Dench will rely on an assistant to hold her pages due to her vision. The film rights to the memoir are currently in negotiation with two major studios, with a decision expected by the end of the quarter.