I can hardly believe that it is more than half a century since I first stepped on to the stage of the Old Vic Theatre and into a way of life that has brought me the most rewarding professional relationships and friendships. I cannot imagine now ever doing anything else with my life except acting…" – Judi Dench From London's glittering West End to Broadway's bright lights, from her Academy Award-winning role as Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love to "M" in the James Bond films, Judi Dench has treated audiences to some of the greatest performances of our time. She made her professional acting debut in 1957 with England's Old Vic theatre company playing Ophelia in Hamlet , Katherine in Henry V (her New York debut), and then, Juliet. In 1961, she joined the Royal Shakespeare Company playing Anya in The Cherry Orchard with John Gielgud and Peggy Ashcroft. In 1968, she went beyond the classical stage to become a sensation as Sally Bowles in Cabaret, adding musical comedy to her repertoire. Over the years, Dench has given indelible performances in the classics as well as some of the greatest plays and musicals of the twentieth century including Noël Coward's Hay Fever, Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, Kaufman and Hart's The Royal Family and David Hare's Amy's View (for which she won the Tony Award). Recently, she made a triumphant return to A Midsummer Night's Dream as Titania, a role she first played in 1962, now played as a theatre-besotted Queen Elizabeth I. Her film career has been filled with unforgettable performances of some unforgettable women: Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown, the terrifying schoolteacher Barbara Covett in Notes on a Scandal and the writer Iris Murdoch in Iris. And, for the BBC, Dench created another unforgettable woman when she brought her great comic timing and deeply felt emotions to the role of Jean Pargetter in the long-running BBC series As Time Goes By. And Furthermore is, however, more than the story of a great actress's career. It is also the story of Judi Dench's life: her early days as a child in a family that was in love with the theatre; her marriage to actor Michael Williams; the joy she takes in her daughter, the actress Finty Williams, and her grandson, Sammy. Filled with Dench's impish sense of humor and diamond-sharp intelligence, And Furthermore is the audiobook every fan of the great Judi Dench will cherish.
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"I felt Judi Dench's voice coming through in this book. She talks about various people she's worked with, plays, movies and tv shows that she's acted in. It's a fun read. She sounds like a cool person, someone I'd like to hang out with for a while. That's just what this book felt like. "
— Polly (4 out of 5 stars)
“Narrated in perfect Dench style by Samantha Bond, this is the ideal format for quick glimpses, drawn with humor and charm, of her incredibly full working life…
— Bookpage, Audio of the MonthBond's voice is elegant, charming, and full of pep and vinegar as she recounts snippets of Dench's life and remarkable career…Bond's performance adds sparkle to this delightful audiobook.
— AudioFileFellow actress and close friend Samantha Bond is an excellent reader; in fact, she sounds a lot like Dench herself, who narrates the preface…Recommended for Dench fans as well as for theater students and enthusiasts.
— Library JournalTo hear the Preface read in her unforgettable voice is perfect prelude to a narration by the accomplished Samantha Bond. This is a memoir you'll thoroughly enjoy, and then want to share with friends.
— Beauty by the Books" This was a bit of an abbreviated memoir, but it was still full of great stories and the amazing list of legendary actors that she's worked with. Super quick read. "
— Amy, 5/12/2011" A compendium of information on Judi's professional life divided chronologically. Full of her spirit, told in her voice, delightful... especially if the reader spent a lot of time enjoying her early days in the theater. "
— Kathleen, 4/29/2011" Like reading a timeline. Painfully dull. "
— Stephanie, 4/27/2011" I loved the chatty tone of this book. I've admired Dame Judi Dench for a number of years now, so it was a fun read for me. I loved hearing a little bit about her marriage and about some of the people she worked with. "
— Saralyn, 4/25/2011" I am really enjoying reading this book. It is a stream of consciousness type book and some parts are a little difficult to understand and she makes some references I don't get but overall it's a fun read and it's nice to learn more about Dame Judi. "
— Jackie, 4/19/2011" In the end I found it inspiring but I think it's because I'm an actor. I honestly thought a lot of it was somewhat boring, which greatly surprised me. "
— Marc, 4/17/2011" While I love, love, love Judi Dench; I did not love this book. It was mostly about her theater days which was not very interesting to me. "
— Beth, 4/6/2011" Easy to read chronolical portrayal of her beginnings in the theatre, what seems to me like heavy/busy work, later tv and then films. She perfers the theatre. Shows her sense of humor and how much she enjoys others and life. Hard worker. One long happy marriage, one child. "
— Virginia, 4/4/2011Dame Judi Dench, one of the foremost actors of our day, has won numerous major awards for her work on both stage and screen, including an Academy Award, ten BAFTAs, and a record eight Laurence Olivier Awards. In recognition of her many achievements she received an OBE in 1970, became a DBE in 1988, and in 2005 was awarded a Companion of Honour.
Samantha Bond, an Earphones Award–winning narrator, is an actress best known for her role as Miss Moneypenny in several James Bond films, including Die Another Day, The World Is Not Enough, Tomorrow Never Dies, and GoldenEye. Her many television credits include Agatha Christie’s Poirot, Inspector Morse, Midsomer Murders, Rumpole of the Bailey, and Downton Abbey. She is a member of the Royal Shakespeare Company and has appeared in multiple performances on Broadway and London’s West End. She starred opposite Dame Judi Dench in David Hare’s award-winning play Amy’s View at the Royal National Theatre.