Judi Dench’s 75-Year Dream Role She Never Watched
Judi Dench finally fulfilled her lifelong wish to work with Clint Eastwood in the biopic J Edgar, yet she chose never to watch the film she had anticipated for decades.
Conventional logic might suggest that, after waiting a lifetime for a single chance, one would at least be curious enough to see the result. Yet, for Judi Dench, that was not the case. Despite finally achieving her long-held ambition to collaborate with Clint Eastwood, she never sat down to view the finished product. Perhaps she relies on a sharp memory, or maybe she simply prefers to keep the experience as something lived rather than observed.
Anticipation Meets Reality
It is not uncommon for performers to avoid watching their own work, but in this instance, the scale of the project might have warranted an exception. Dench, a celebrated figure with a shelf full of awards, was visibly thrilled when she received the call she had been waiting for. Even so, that excitement did not translate into a desire to see herself on screen.
One might assume that, after decades in the spotlight, Dench would be immune to nerves or awe, especially when working with other industry legends. However, Eastwood’s reputation precedes him. When he approached her to portray Annie Hoover in the biographical drama starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Dench could not refuse.
“When he rang me up, my voice went up several octaves,”
she recalled.
“I thought, ‘I’ve waited 75 years for this.’”
Clint Eastwood’s Distinctive Approach
Despite her enthusiasm, Dench found Eastwood’s brisk filming style rather challenging. His tendency to limit scenes to just a couple of takes clashed with her background in theatre, where repetition and refinement are the norm. Nevertheless, she secured a significant supporting part in one of his productions, even if it was not destined to be a career highlight for either of them.
Given the years of anticipation, it would seem only natural for her to watch the result. Instead, Dench deliberately avoided the film, admitting to mixed feelings about finally working with Eastwood. Her stage experience has always allowed her to spot imperfections in her own performances, and the permanence of film proved unsettling.
“I find it too hard to cope with that idea that you can’t change it,”
she explained.
“I love the way in the theatre that you can change it every night.”
Unwatched, Yet Unregretted
When asked if this reluctance extended to her long-awaited collaboration with the four-time Oscar winner, Dench confirmed it did.
“What’s it like?”
she mused.
“I suppose I should see it.”
The general consensus is that the film is perfectly serviceable, though it hardly ranks among the finest achievements of either Dench or Eastwood. Still, her dream was realised, and whether she ever views the film herself seems beside the point.