A wonderfully entertaining conversation with our dear friend, Judi. Judi Dench has always been a favorite of mine but I had not realized how many of her works were Shakespeare. It was eye opening to read of her many encounters while performing and realize just how much an actress, even one as well known as Dench, must experience during her rise to fame.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent
By Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea

April 2024

Non-Fiction


What would it be like to sit and chat with a world renowned actress and hear tantalizing tidbits of her experiences over a well decorated career spanning multiple decades? Luckily, we have been given the opportunity with Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent.

Brendan O'Hea had interviewed Dame Judi Dench over the course of several years to record her experiences performing in Shakespeare plays. This has now been turned into a book. Mr O'Hea asks Dame Dench questions of the various plays she was in, as well as the various roles in the plays. Readers are then treated to conversations between two colleagues and gifted with their observations, thoughts, and stories.

Informative and utterly entertaining, Ms Dench's triumphs and mishaps will make you laugh and cry. She has worked with so many exceptional actors it was always fascinating to see who would be mentioned next. Even more interesting is her insight into the works of William Shakespeare and acting. Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is the perfect read for any fan of Dame Dench and those who enjoy the theater. And with all the knowledge she is sharing, a must read for those pursuing acting.

Kathy Andrico - KathysReviewCorner.com

This is an amazing book that shares Dame Judi Dench’s thoughts on Shakespeare’s writing, plays, and characters. And she mixes it with her knowledge and memories of seven decades of performances of Shakespeare's work in the British theater. I love the side stories such as hef lying in pain on stage after breaking her ribs falling dead as Juliet. She easily picks out powerful lines or shows the complexity of a relationship between characters based on a few Shakespearean words. She understands the characters and their motivations. She also has stories upon stories from various productions in her lifetime. I honestly thought I would skim the book because there are plays and characters I am less familiar with but I didn’t want to miss any of her insights or experiences. This is for Shakespeare lovers, theater lovers and fans of Dench. I only wish there were more than two photos included in the book.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench with Brendan O'Hea is a love letter to both Shakespeare and a life spent performing his works. Written in a very conversational style the book recounts Judi's long and illustrious career in theatre, moving through each of her roles, and the relevant plays in turn. In Judi's trademark irreverent style we hear accounts of working with some of the best actors and directors of her generation and while she is always quick to recount an amusing tale she is equally determined to celebrate the best about those she has shared a stage with as well as the beauty of the plays themselves. As the conversations progress over the course of the book we see the joys and tragedies of life reflected in art and examine how through his characters Shakespeare explores so many facets of humanity. I think this is a must read for anyone who considers themselves a fan of Judi Dench or an aficionado of the works of Shakespeare , and certainly anyone who dreams of a life on the stage would do well to read this. Because of the way the book is organised I found it perfect to dip in and out of , but I have no doubt that it will be read cover to cover by many readers who will enjoy it just as much as I have.
I read and reviewed an ARC courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher, all opinions are my own.

I've always liked Shakespeare, but my interest quadrupled after taking an Intro to Shakespeare course in college. My class was less than 15 people and my professor was really chill. She helped break down the material and we always watched the adaptation afterward. Whenever I read the Bard, I try to tandem read with a performance to catch all the proper inflections and jokes. Judi Dench's memoir was an absolute dream. I had read all the plays she referenced except for The Merry Wives of Windsor, which was next on my list anyway. She even had a small chapter dedicated to my favorite play, Cymbeline, an often glossed-over work of Shakespeare. Dench recalled her fondest memories working for the Royal Shakespeare Company and each chapter was so fascinating. I've read 24 of his plays and I wish I knew as much as she does.

For those who aren't Bard Babies such as myself, this book could be a bit difficult to read. If you're not familiar with the play she's referencing, all the subtleties and minute details could be lost on you. Thankfully, her interviewer helps provide proper context for all the various scenes. There were even a few drawings done by Dench herself peppered in between chapters. This book was so darling and I even tandem read As You Like It alongside this book. She helped reinvigorate my love for Shakespeare because it had been a year since I read The Comedy of Errors. Although there were many plays she dissected, the chapters were very short and I loved reading her interpretation of all her roles she's played in her illustrious career.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent was a phenomenal book and it's wonderful to see another Bard Baby singing his praises. I would recommend this for seasoned thespians or those who merely wish to dip their toes into Shakespearean waters. I hope this book encourages those to pick up his plays or even watch a modern adaption. It's so important to keep the theater alive four centuries after his passing. Shakespeare may not pay my rent, but I'm glad it paid hers!

Dame Judi Dench is a national treasure and this book just enforces this over and over again. What a life this woman has lived [both on the stage and off]!!

I have not seen a live Shakespeare play, but certainly hope to now [not something that I ever thought I would say]. When I was a kid I read A Midsummer Night's Dream and loved that immensely - that was my intro to Shakespeare. I read the obligatory Romeo and Juliet [I am not a fan] and Macbeth [I am a HUGE fan] in school and then when Mel Gibson did Hamlet in movie form [and then went into schools to teach it] in the 90's, I saw that [I am also a HUGE fan of this] and again, when Kenneth Branagh [who I would L O V E to see on the stage] did a movie of Hamlet [great googly moogly that movie is L O N G. Brilliant, but L O N G], I watched that. So I guess seeing a play live would obviously be my next step. But to be honest, nothing else has ever really grabbed my attention. Until now.

Dame Judi has an exquisite memory - of all of her shows, the costumes, the people, the directors and the love she speaks of each play is awe-inspiring [with the exception of one, that I cannot remember now. She dislikes that one greatly. Which is probably why I don't remember it. If Dame Judi doesn't like it, neither will I. LOL] and inspired me to seek out more productions of these plays [I know that there are some live productions that have been filmed], even ones I never ever thought I would want to see; this is how much of an influence she has on the reader. She, along with Brendan O'Hea just breathe life into the works of Shakespeare and make even one who is indifferent about The Bard much more interested. Listening to her tell the stories was just fantastic and while I learned so much while listening, it was mostly just a really enjoyable way to pass a couple afternoons, filled with laughter and some tears and absolute genuine affection for a person I have never [and will never[ meet. This book brought me genuine joy and I am so glad that I was able to read/listen to it.

I was able to get the audiobook ARC of this book and to be honest, this is the very best way to experience this book. While Dame Judi doesn't narrate all of it [Barbara Flynn does most of the heavy lifting here - and I swear she must have been infused with Dame Judi's very essence as she sounds very much like her {down to her laugh}, that most of the time I completely forgot that it wasn't actually Dame Judi speaking {until she would quote a bit of Shakespeare in between chapters and I would snap back to reality}. As a side note, listening to Dame Judi read Sonnet 116 will bring you to tears and made me want to listen to it over and over again. I highly recommend the audiobook to everyone who is interested in this book - listening to Dame Judi and Brendan O'Hea bicker at the very end is absolutely priceless and is a great way to end the book. Just glorious!

I was invited to read and review this book by the publishers [St. Martin's Press], and I want to thank them, Dame Judi Dench, Brendan O'Hea [author/narrator], Barbara Flynn - Narrator, NetGalley, and Macmillan Audio for providing both the eBook and audiobook ARC's in exchange for an honest review.

This book is absolutely charming. Sometimes we focus on the literary nuances (and mysteries) of Shakespeare, but Judi Dench is here to remind us how much an actor learns by playing Shakespearean characters. She has some really stunning insights, plus some funny and outlandish stories of productions over the years.

Thank you to the publishers and NetGalley for the opportunity to review a temporary digital ARC in exchange for an unbiased review.

This is a fascinating look at the work of Dame Judi Dench in all her Shakespearean acting roles over her career of more than seventy years! While those with deep knowledge and interest in Shakespeare’s plays may best appreciate the interviews and anecdotes, other readers will enjoy many of Dench’s stories about various incidents she recollects from her specific roles. Best target audiences for this ambitious project are likely libraries, colleges, and students of drama, especially the Bard’s works.

Oof, I got bored and dnf. This one is going to be perfect for anyone who is into acting and/or Shakespeare. There isn't a lot about Judi in what I did read but so much on how they did Shakespeare's plays. The right people are going to love this.

I thoroughly enjoyed reading Judi Dench's unfiltered breakdown of Shakespeare's work (based on each of the roles she has performed). Her insight gave this reader a better understanding of the work and words of the revered playwright, and Brendan O'Hea's interview style gave us a peak at the real Dame Dench. Four stars!

If you enjoy Shakespeare, you’ll appreciate this behind-the-scenes look at his plays through the eyes of someone who has lived them. Dench shares her unique decades long perspective on Shakespeare’s characters, dialogue, and plot points as well as a master class in stage acting. Thank you netgalley and the publisher for the arc in exchange for a review.

My thanks to the publisher for the ARC. It was a slow starter but if one stays with it you will be rewarded. It is an excellent view of Shakespeare’s most memorable female roles as well as insight into some of the memorable male leads Dame Judi Dench has performed with. The dialogue with Brendan was a fascinating way of telling the story of a remarkable Shakespearean actress. I highly recommend reading this-it was fantastic!

this book was an absolute joy to read! as someone who's extensively studied shakespeare and adores judi dench, this book was right up my alley. however - i think i would have enjoyed this just as much if i knew nothing about shakespeare or his plays! each play is its own chapter and the plots and characters are explained throughout, so it would be easy to follow along without any prior knowledge.

i also loved having the two different perspectives throughout the book as well. brendan's critical perspective of the plays vs. judi's performance perspective was absolutely fascinating to consider. i loved learning about how judi approaches roles and how actors interpret the plays compared to how others may look at it.

This book is so much fun! I highly recommend it to all lovers of Shakespeare and Judy Dench. She offers so much insight into the plays. I had never considered many of the points she makes about the characters.
Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read and review this book.

DNF: This was my bad for misinterpreting what this book was. I thought this was more of a memoir of Dench's time on stage, whereas it's actually a series of interviews about her experiences with specific Shakespeare plays, going through essentially line-by-line with the characters she played. I think this would be incredible for someone who has more of a familiarity/appreciation with Shakespeare, but unfortunately, that's not me. Regardless of my lack of engagement with the subject matter, the parts I did read were fun simply for the tone of Dench's words. She's funny, smart, and insightful. Wish I could have gotten into this more.

Shakespeare and Judi Dench... that was all I needed to heart to know that it would be good. The book is relaxed, and Judi Dench is a wealth of knowledge. I read this one, but I'm also very excited to listen to the audio book when it is available. The conversational format works really well in the book and I'm positive it will as wonderful in audio.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the digital review copy.

I've long admired Judi Dench's work. Her presence in a work is endorsement and promise of a riveting performance. SHAKESPEARE: THE MAN WHO PAYS THE RENT by Judi Dench and Brendan O"Hea covers Dench's performances over a lifetime of plays, more a riveting conversation with veers and asides that bring to life what it was to be on stage, acting and bringing to life stories with passion, intuition, and insight that enriched everyone present. I loved the conversational twists and turns and getting to know a profoundly gifted and frank observer of the arts, people, and the performances shared with style and grace. I enjoyed it immensely, not being a theater aficionado, but I imagine that they will be equally pleased with an inside seat on an extraordinary performance. I received a copy of this book and these opinions are my own, unbiased thoughts.

A delightful book with Judi Dench (answering questions from Brendan O'Hea) telling tales of her on and off- stage experiences when she has played various Shakespeare roles. Don’t be intimidated by “Shakespeare”, because this book is laid out in a very easy-going interview style.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is a delightful read that I thoroughly enjoyed.

The book is written in interview style that is so comfortable that you feel that you are sitting in the room with your friends and learning things you didn't know about your friends.

The book is full of antidotes , wisdom , reflections and lessons learned.

I laughed out loud at times and I even felt I should revisit a few Shakespearean works.

Highly recommend you get a copy of Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent and sit back enjoy.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the privilege of reading and reviewing this delightful read.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent by Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea grew out of a series of interviews O’Hea intended for archival purposes, about Dench’s memories of all her Shakespeare roles. After her grandson overhead them talking, the idea arose to turn their talks into a book, which was a great idea. I enjoyed reading this so very much I didn’t want it to end, and now I’ve realized I should probably find a production of Cymbeline and watch it, as well as the rest of the Henry plays. This is a chatty book (since it originated as actual chatting between old friends) that also is supremely informative about how this particular actor interpreted her parts, and her philosophy on the art of acting, and what she learned from her various mentors. I loved that she would sometimes say she wished she’d play a certain part differently if she did it now. There’s also a fair few anecdotes about productions and working with different directors and actors. If you’re into theatre, or into Shakespeare, or just interested in an entertaining person talking, definitely check this out.