Judi Dench Scenes from My Life

by Judi Dench, John Miller

This marvelous collection of images, many of which are drawn from Judi Dench’s personal photo albums, offer the actress’s many fans a rare insight into her life. John Miller, her biographer, has augmented Judi Dench’s own photos with images depicting 50 years of distinguished work in film, theater, and television. From her childhood in York and her first work as an actress in her teens to recent informal shots backstage and private family photos, these images show Judi Dench as never seen before. Judi Dench is the foremost actress in contemporary British theater. She has also won acclaim for her films, with memorable performances in Shakespeare in Love , for which she received an Oscar, as well as Iris , Chocolat , Mrs. Brown , and Mrs. Henderson Presents , all of which garnered her Oscar nominations.

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Memoir, Biography Memoir, Autobiography, British Literature

224 pages, Paperback

First published November 1, 2005

Reviews

[Cynthia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found Scenes from My Life in a Little Free Library. What's not to like about photographs of Judi Dench and her personal captions. Art, theatre, history, humor and Dench.

[Sammy · Rating 2 out of 5]

First off, let me say that I love Dame Judi! She is easily my favourite actress, and I'll happily sit and watch anything she's in.
Unfortunately though, that hasn't translated into loving this book. Don't get me wrong, it's great for what it is, and if your thing is just to look at pretty pictures, you won't go far wrong here. But the thing I like about actor biographies is the behind the scenes stuff. I like to hear about the logistics, the trials and triumphs of putting on a show or making a movie, and while there is a very little of that here, what there is just isn't quite satisfying enough.

A lovely thing to flick through when you only have a minute or two, but ultimately not what I was craving.

[Jan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Lovely book to look through - all the great pictures of her family and career

[Surreysmum · Rating 3 out of 5]

I knew before I bought this that it wasn't "the biography", just a book of photographs with comments by Dench. So it seems unfair to complain that that's what it was. And yet I still could have wished the comments to be more substantial. Some of the little stories were funny, though - and some verged on the incomprehensible, though imagining them said in a very dry English tone sometimes cleared up the mystery. The photos of the theatre years in Stratford and London are real gems, and may just earn this book a place on my "keeper" shelf. It's really a work aimed at Judi Dench fans, though, rather than Judi Dench admirers, and I number myself amongst the latter.

[Marianne Ogden · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is also and attractive coffee table book with many high quality photos- good for anyone who is a fan of this outstanding British actress.

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this lady!

[Stacie · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read! I have always enjoyed Judi Dench as an actress, so it was delightful to peek into the huge variety of roles she has played, as well as a little into her personal life. How refreshing to discover her deep love for, and joy found in, her husband, her daughter, her work, in life itself. This book is easy to read with many photographs to peruse and enjoy.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is an interesting idea, to write a memoir using photos throughout your life. This is divided into chapters: family, theatre, etc but it works very well. There is enough information with each photo to give a complete discussion of its importance in her life. An enjoyable read from a talented lady.

[Estelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely photos! Reading this book feels as if you are sitting down with Judi Dench herself as she turns pages in her scrapbook, commenting along the way. At the end is a complete list of her roles up to 2005. She says she will never retire. So the list goes on! Good for us.

[Matthew Fleming · Rating 4 out of 5]

Found this surprisingly evocative and educational, particularly about theatre productions between the years 1960 - 2000. I say surprising, because there's such little text you'd think that what there is would be rather throwaway - but it's Judi Dench. Not a word is wasted.

[Heaven Claussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

OMG loved this book. Such a wonderful read.

[Jade Elias-killeen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely book filled with professional and personal photographs of my favourite actress

[Jeanette]

"'When we are together, there is nothing we cannot achieve', which is something Michael used to say." (25)

[Sarah Constantine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with lovely photos and personal insights.

[Anne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book of photos - both from productions and private life and memories. However only goes upto 2005 - but perhaps there is time for a sequal?

[Lisa · Rating 3 out of 5]

#85 of 120 books pledged to read during 2023

[Zandra · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read in conjunction with the documentary “Tea with the Dames” and each complemented the other wonderfully.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5*

Judy's theatrical, stage and screen memories.
Pictures, anecdotes and personal thoughts.

[Garry Walton · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having just finished John Miller's authorized bio of Dame Dench, I was eager to hear her story in her own words. Alas, this book is a bit disappointing for two reasons. Miller helped with this one as well, by editing and introducing it, and it turns out that many of the anecdotes he quoted from the famous actor in his earlier bio reappear in this collection, often word for word. And since this is really a photo album chronicling her amazing and lengthy career, those anecdotes are most of what we get in the way of details about her life and work.

But there is good news. This volume collects an abundance of photos - from her personal collection and from friends as well as from public PR shots of performances and awards. Moreover, since it was issued a decade after the Miller bio, it adds a handful of stage productions and a dozen films from her seemingly endless career. And it concludes with an absolutely superb chronology of all of her stage, tv, and film roles as actor and director for 50 years, from 1957 through 2006.

It reinforces a couple of things that the earlier biography made clear: this immensely private person is very tight-lipped about personal life, yet her joy for life, relish in performing, unmatched love of practical jokes and hijinks (often including on stage), and commitment to collaboration are everywhere apparent.

If this book is not exactly a treasure, its subject undoubtedly is - as a stunning talent and as a marvelous human being.

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have always loved Judi Dench, and I have an enormous amount of respect for her craft and body of work. I think she's actually a really nice person as well, which comes through when you read, or rather look at this book. This is a nice book to peruse if you love acting on stage or screen and of course Judi Dench.
If I'm to be perfectly honest, I did not read every single word of this book. It's rather like a coffee-table book which is meant to be perused at your leisure. I'm waiting for Judi's autobiography to be relesed later this year, which hopefully will fill in the gaps this book left in the stories of her life.

[Marcia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Judi Dench is one of my favorite actresses, especially in the PBS series As Time Goes By. So when I saw this collection of photographs, Judi Dench: Scenes from My Life, featured on the new non-fiction shelf at the library, I just had to bring it home and was very happy to spend several hours in the company of this wonderful woman. Whether you know Dame Judi as M in the James Bond movies, Mrs. Brown, Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love or from her many stage roles, you will want to sit with this book for awhile.

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[Judith · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved, loved, loved this book and the subject. Ms Dench is utter charm wrapped in incredible talent. She is aging with an inspired grace and still doing great work in cinema. After reading this book I went to Amazon.uk and searched for DVDs. BBC offers a collection of her performances beginning in the B&W 60s when Paddy Chayevsky and Olivier were doing TV. Decade after decade she produced work startlingly original. Just when you think you know what she will be like in a role, she is completely different. Her story is very worth reading if you are curious and "mature".

[Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I had no idea that there are several books preceding this one so "and furthermore" is just snippets of memories not covered previously. I recommend reading the other options before choosing this book.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful representation of Judy Dench's life, so far. Photos from her personal collection, trade papers and personal friends. Short description and stories accompany them. Felt like she'd let me into her life, for a short while. Delightful representation of an amazing woman.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a picture book, very enjoyable to see all the different photographs of Dame Judy throughout her career. Nothing too demanding in the script. As she is one of my favorite actresses it is a lovely book to own.

[Crystal Lei · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting take on an autobiography. It's more a picography.

[Bachyboy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just devoured this. It is largely a photograph album with extended commentary by Judi Dench. She is one of my favourite actors so I loved this book without feeling too much like a voyeur.

[Kristin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great to learn a smidgen about a wonderful actress... made me really interested to read her bio.

[Wendy · Rating 1 out of 5]

Tried to listen to the audiobook on a road trip. Total snoozer- didn't even make it through the first cd.

[Lynn Kearney · Rating 3 out of 5]

I didn't realize this is just a picture book with the odd bit of banal commentary. Disappointing. She still is just about the best actress there is!