Judi Dench - Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?

Dame Judi Dench will release a new memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, on November 3, 2026. Written with longtime friend and collaborator Brendan O'Hea, the 368-page book promises a wide-ranging look back at the Oscar-winning actress's life and career, from her childhood in York to her acclaimed work on stage and screen.

According to the publisher, the memoir traces Dench's journey from missing out on the role of Mary in a school Nativity play to becoming one of Britain's most celebrated actors. Along the way, she reflects on performing in London's West End and on Broadway, walking Hollywood red carpets, winning an Academy Award, Tony Award, Golden Globes, Olivier Awards and BAFTAs, and of course redefining the role of M as the sharp, uncompromising head of MI6 in the James Bond films.

The book also explores the doubts that accompanied Dench throughout her career. She recalls being told early on by a film producer that there was "everything wrong" with her face and remembers a theatre director advising her against appearing in sitcoms. These experiences, she explains, contributed to a habit of leaving a bag outside the rehearsal room in case she suddenly felt the need to "make a run for it."

Beyond her professional achievements, Dench shares behind-the-scenes stories, including on-set and backstage pranks, reflections on many of her best-known screen roles, memories of her marriage to actor Michael Williams, and her lifelong love of animals and nature. The memoir is based on conversations with Brendan O'Hea, who previously collaborated with Dench on Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.

While this is not Dench's first book, it is her broadest personal memoir to date. Her 2024 bestseller, Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent, focused exclusively on her seven decades performing Shakespeare, with Dench and O'Hea discussing every Shakespearean role she played, alongside stories from rehearsals, productions and her approach to acting.

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Earlier, in 2014, she published Behind the Scenes, a richly illustrated retrospective featuring photographs from her personal archive accompanied by brief recollections, offering readers a visual tour through her remarkable career rather than a full autobiography.

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Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? will be published by St. Martin's Press on November 3, 2026. The hardcover edition comprises 368 pages and carries ISBN 9781250438928.

You can now pre-order Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? at Amazon or signed copies at Waterstones.