Book Review: ‘Is It Too Late To Make A Run For It?’ By Judi Dench And Brendan O’Hea

by | Nov 8, 2026 | Books | 0 comments


The book is in stores on Tuesday, Novemebr 3rd from St. Martin’s Press. Click on the link to buy a copy. https://link.amazon/B08jMGncB

You surely know Dame Judi Dench from her illustrious and highly decorated acting career on stage and on screen. With this memoir, we learn so much more about her life and career, and the personality that makes her one we’d love to have a drink with. Not your typical memoir, this one is in the format of an interview conducted by Brendan O’Hea, and it’s broken up into specific topics of discussion. O’Hea is a theater director and actor, and he and ‘Jude’ are longtime friends and colleagues, making for mostly warm conversation.

The 26 topics/chapters provide the structure for O’Hea’s questions, which leads to Dench regaling us with memories and stories, and sometimes veering a bit off-topic for something extra interesting or colorful. She turns 92 this year, and thanks to her acting career, she has travelled the world and met and worked with many fascinating folks. Dench discloses she’s suffering from macular degeneration, which now severely limits her vision. In typical fashion (what we come to understand after reading this), she doesn’t complain about this late-in-life development, yet she does confess to missing reading, seeing her beloved garden, and having pet cats and dogs (now a tripping hazard).

For fans of James Bond movies who only know Judi Dench as M, 007’s boss (for both Pierce Brosnan and Daniel Craig), you might be surprised at the breadth of her career spanning more than sixty years and crossing TV, feature films, and stage productions on Broadway and in England. Oscar, ten BAFTAs, two Golden Globes, two SAG awards, eight Oliviers, and a Tony. She tells stories from many of the productions she was involved with, and she often mentions her late husband Michael Williams, also an actor. Together they were married thirty years at the time of his passing (2001) and had a daughter, Finty, who also pops up in a few stories.

After reading the book, it’s fair to describe Dame Judi Dench as an optimist – she loves and appreciates and celebrates life. She’s also forthcoming and direct – not shying away from less than pleasant memories or those that prove her humanity. She was once told by a director that there is “every single thing wrong with your face.” This is a woman who appreciates a good laugh … even/especially if it stems from a prank. One chapter is devoted to her ‘Bugbears’ (pet peeves), and she rips on cell phones and bad grammar (neither of which surprised this reader). However, much more time is devoted to the things and people she likes: animals, certain directors, Dame Maggie Smith, Christmas, and those special trees in her garden – the ones planted for certain folks in her life.

On a personal note, I found the section on ‘Ageing’ especially insightful, as she honestly admits she’d rather be “younger and dumber”, as there are very few advantages to getting older. She claims to choose roles by the story being told rather than by reading the script … and her career is so diverse by her own choosing. Despite claiming she’d choose live theater over film, she also admits to a door mat that states, “I’ve been expecting you 007”. For one who dreamed of becoming a ballet dancer, this Dame has done just fine … and her memoir leaves us feeling like we could be good friends.

David Ferguson
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