Dame Judi Dench has had an almost seven-decade career on stage and screen, playing iconic roles as varied as the uncompromising M in the James Bond franchise, historic monarchs and even an ageing, singing cat.
But there is one character who has apparently escaped her grasp.
In her new memoir, Is It Too Late To Make A Run For It?, the Oscar winner reflects on the one that got away.
As reported by People, she admits in the book that she always wanted to play Cressida in the Shakespeare play Troilus And Cressida, a role which had long intrigued her.
Troilus and Cressida – thought to have been written by the bard around 1602 – is set during the Trojan War. Cressida is a Trojan woman caught between the chaos of the war and a doomed romance with an idealistic prince, and was notably played by Dame Helen Mirren in a 1968 production for the Royal Shakespeare Company.
Dame Judi also writes in her new autobiography that she once “longed to be a stage designer” and even thought she would work as a fishmonger, before the call to go on stage took prominence.
“My earliest ambition was to become a ballerina, but when my father pointed out I’d have to retire by the time I was 40, I decided it probably wasn’t for me,” the Skyfall actor explained, revealing she’d been planning her long and illustrious career from a young age.
Sadly, the acting veteran announced earlier this month that she is no longer able to work due to her worsening eye condition.
The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel star was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012, telling BBC Radio 4’s Today program last week that: “I can’t be on stage. I can’t do a play anymore. I can’t do a film anymore. I can’t read anymore.”
The Shakespeare In Love actor expressed her sadness about this, telling listeners: “They said this summer was absolutely sensational with bluebells. I couldn’t see one. But I know what my trees look like, and part of it is in my memory and part of it is about hopefully what I can make out.”
Is It Too Late To Make A Run For It? is set to be published on Tuesday 3 November.
