'And Furthermore,' Judi Dench has a lot to say

[Goldeneye]

http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news ... h_ST_N.htm

Americans know her best for her TV (As Time Goes By, Cranford) and film (James Bond movies, Notes on a Scandal) roles. But Judi Dench, 76, is also one of the biggest names on the world stage, playing everyone from Ophelia to Juliet to Sally Bowles. In fact, she was recently voted the greatest stage actor of all time by The Stage newspaper, a top performing arts publication in England. She's written a new book, And Furthermore (St. Martin's, 304 pp., $25.99, on sale today), which she says is not an autobiography but a romp through her life in theater. USA TODAY's Craig Wilson caught up with her, wondering about America's love affair with As Time Goes By and her hatred of ... worms

Q.Are you still nosy, like you were as a kid? Needing to know what's going on downstairs?

A. I do a bit have that ... Especially in company with a lot of people, I like to know what's what. What's going on.

Q. You don't approve of the awards business even though you've won an Oscar (for portraying Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love). You say you can't really award prizes for acting. Why not?

A. It's very hard. If you hear someone singing, they can make the note. But acting is such a personal thing. It's a strange thing to be able to judge. It's an imprecise science.

Q. You say that if you really want to know how to deliver Shakespeare, you go to either Sir John Gielgud or Frank Sinatra. Sinatra?

A. Sinatra presents you the entire arc. He never lingers too long on one thing. You appreciate the essence of the whole. You're led through a song with Sinatra. There's a beginning, a middle and end.

Q. Laughing at yourself is important, you say. Do you still?

A. I certainly do. When I take myself too seriously I'll leave. It's essential to have a sense of humor, whether you're an actor or not.

Q. You knew your late husband Michael Williams for nine years before you married. Was one of you incredibly slow?

A. He was in love with someone else and so was I ... We were just really good friends for all those years. And then one day we turned around.

Q. Why do you hate the Merchant of Venice so?

A. I don't think anyone redeems themselves in that play. I've never liked it. I was honored to be in it, but I don't like the play.

Q. You say you don't have difficulty learning the lines, but rather the difficulty comes from working out why the character says the lines. How do you do that?

A. I don't know. I don't know how you do it. You just hope to make the person you read on the page live through you, and somehow portray the best way what the author is saying about that character. You have to make them believable and real.

Q. How much attention do you pay to the reviews? You've said over and over again the reviews were mixed but the audience loved it.

A. I don't read them now. You get to know because people tell you, of course. ... You have a shrewd idea of how things went.

Q. Have you come to terms with the press over the years?

A. How so? I don't like intrusion into any privacy of mine. It's not my job and it's not their job. It's nice to have a private life.

Q. What is it with you and worms? You don't mind snakes, but worms drive you crazy?

A. (Laughs) I don't mind a good snake. But a worm. When I was very, very small I jumped at one point and a worm leapt up into my sandal. I would rather have a boa constrictor around.

Q. Given your druthers, would you never direct again on the stage?

A. I don't think I would. I find it a bit insular.

Q.As for the TV series As Time Goes By, are you still surprised by its popularity in America?

A. Very. It's on a continuous loop. They can't help it! It's in front of them. I had a woman writing to tell us she was sending a quilt for the bed because that's not the kind of quilt we'd have. Very curious.

Q.You've played M in the James Bond films. Is Pierce Brosnan still your favorite Bond?

A. I can't say he's my favorite. I've moved on to another Bond now, the divine Daniel (Craig).

Q. What are you working on now? Just finished up filming a Clint Eastwood movie in L.A.?

A. Yes. It's called J. Edgar. I play his mother (Leonardo DiCaprio stars as J. Edgar Hoover). We wrapped last night.

[Alessandra]

Q.You've played M in the James Bond films. Is Pierce Brosnan still your favorite Bond?

A. I can't say he's my favorite. I've moved on to another Bond now, the divine Daniel (Craig).

This is just PRICELESS. I love her. This is, clearly, extremely sarcastic. At least she tells the truth, and does so with humor.

[Kristatos]

"I can't say he's my favourite" - nicely ambiguous statement there.

[Blowfeld]

I am not so sure she is being sarcastic. She lost any respect I had for her when she stayed on for CR in my opinion she should have gracefully bowed out when they rebooted. What really bothered me was all she did to calm people down when the rumours of Pierce being fired were rampant, then the no he is not he will be back for 21 were going around, essentially she lied to the fans to calm things down then when she was making CR she attacked the fans who didn't like Craig. Because we are cruel, not that we were mislead or object to the ruining of 007.

[Blowfeld]

Ah, She is back. With nothing to say as it turned out.

DAME Judi Dench has confirmed she will be back for Bond 23.

The Oscar-winning actress said she would reprise her role as M, James Bond's boss, for the forthcoming instalment of the hit spy franchise, but remained tight-lipped on the story.

"Yes, I can't tell you anything at all! Nothing... my lips are sealed," she said.

Dame Judi did, however, reveal what she enjoyed about being a part of the Bond movies.

"You get to work with Daniel Craig. You get to go on location if you are very lucky and you get to wear a few sharp suits," she added.

This story can be found at http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtra ... signs.html

Apparently she feels she has to defend Daniel with every breath in a interview. Makes me wonder how bad things are on set. She never gushed or defended Pierce.

[007]

I bet the real head of MI6 isn't 106 years old.

[mcbride007]

Dench is Brosnan's M and worked better in the Brosnan films.

[shaken not stirred]

"You get to work with Daniel Craig. You get to go on location if you are very lucky and you get to wear a few sharp suits," she added.

[/quote]

Whhhaaa....work with Daniel Craig.. incredible , do we also get free balloons, party hate and clowns, hot diggity..I'm so excited I could run into a brick wall.

Wth, stop defending the guy who said bonds below him, wise up, tell babs like it is and get the real bond back, get rid of economy bond and the I can't believe it's not jame bond can you movies.

[Kristatos]

Dench is Brosnan's M and worked better in the Brosnan films.

I suppose you could argue that Bernard Lee was M to three Bonds, so why not Dame Judi? But the difference is that the series didn't previously feel the need to reboot every time there was a new actor playing Bond.

[Thunderpussy]

It was crazy when they went with a reboot to keep Judi Dench as M. it dosen't make sence.