Tuning in…
Tuning in…
Desert Island Discs
Presented by Roy Plomley
Award-winning British actress known for versatile roles from Shakespeare to James Bond, and her Oscar-nominated performance as Queen Victoria in Mrs. Brown.
Eight records
The eight records for this collection haven’t been catalogued yet.
The keepsakes
No book or luxury recorded for this episode.
In conversation
Presenter asks
Now Judy, you won a triple crown five years ago, three awards in one year... but instead of cashing in you decided to take a great big chance. What was that chance?
Yes, actually Hal Prince decided for me. Um I was asked to to play Sally Bow[les] in the musical of Cabaret. Yes. I must say when I was asked I thought it was a joke. I said to my agent, 'This has to be this is somebody ringing up.'
Presenter asks
How long did Cabaret run?
Nine months.
Presenter asks
Do you like long runs?
Um I find them taxing and I find them difficult to do. I I find it difficult to sustain ... the same standard every night. I I do like the repertoire system where one is given a chance of of doing a play perhaps on a on a on a Monday night, and doing another on a Tuesday, and maybe the same one on the on on a Wednesday matinee, and something else on a Wednesday night. I enjoy that challenge. I think it is more difficult to do the long run of the same play.
The recording
Timestamps play the recording from that turn
Presenter
This download is the only extract the BBC has of this edition of Desert Island Discs. The presenter was Roy Plumley.
Presenter
Now Judy, you won a triple crown five years ago, three awards in one year, the the theatrical world was your oyster, but instead of cashing in you decided to take a great big chance.
Judi Dench
Yes, actually Hal Prince decided for me. Um I was asked to to play Sally Bowes in the musical of Cabaret. Yes. I must say when I was asked I thought it was a joke. I said to my agent, This has to be this is somebody ringing up.
Judi Dench
Uh but it wasn't, it was Hal, and I had a very, very happy time.
Presenter
Yeah.
Judi Dench
I enjoyed every moment of it.
Presenter
Yeah, so that this chance really paid off. How long did Cabaret run?
Judi Dench
Nine months.
Presenter
Do you like long runs?
Judi Dench
Um
Judi Dench
I find them taxing and I find them difficult to do. I I find it difficult to sustain.
Judi Dench
Uh the same standard every night. Uh
Judi Dench
I I do like the repertoire system where one is given, but then one is rather spoilt in it. Wh where one is given a chance of of doing a play perhaps on a on a on a Monday night, and doing another on a Tuesday, and maybe the same one on the on on a Wednesday matinee, and something else on a Wednesday night. I enjoy that challenge.
Presenter
Amazing.
Judi Dench
Uh
Presenter
Yeah.
Judi Dench
I think it is more difficult to do the long run of the same play.
Presenter
But after cabaret, you went back to repertoire.
Judi Dench
I did. I went back to Stratford again.
Presenter
You did a production of Winter's Tale in which you doubled Hermione and Perdita. Had that been done before?
Judi Dench
Yes, it had been done in in uh in, I think, eighteen eighty six by Mary Anderson at the Lyceum with Forbes Robertson.
Presenter
Hmm.
Judi Dench
And actually during this, uh while we're talking about this, I must tell you a very strange thing, that that on the day I was married, JC Truin, um, sent Michael and myself a sepia photograph of Mary Anderson, saying, You may or may not know this, but during the time that she was doubling Hermione and Perdita,
Judi Dench
She got married.
Judi Dench
in exactly the same church that you're marrying to day.
Presenter
How strange.
Presenter
Of course, you married Michael Williams, a member of the company.
Judi Dench
Yes we were never together in the company he was always in the other half.
Presenter
Yeah.
Presenter
And now you're together in London in the Shakespeare Company's production of Diane Bussico's London Assurance. And not only is your husband in it with you, but your brother as well.
Judi Dench
Yes, yes. My brother plays my uncle and everyone thinks he's my husband.
Presenter
Yeah.
Presenter
Judy, have you planned your career?
Judi Dench
No, I haven't. No, I in no way. I I would I I can't plan anything, Roy. I I'm very bad at that, because every time I imagine that something will happen, or I plan it, there's the man with the bucket of ice cold water right round the corner.
Presenter
You just like to let things happen.
Judi Dench
Yeah.
Judi Dench
Yes.
Presenter asks
But after cabaret, you went back to repertoire.
I did. I went back to Stratford again.
Presenter asks
You did a production of Winter's Tale in which you doubled Hermione and Perdita. Had that been done before?
Yes, it had been done in in uh in, I think, eighteen eighty six by Mary Anderson at the Lyceum with Forbes Robertson. And actually during this, while we're talking about this, I must tell you a very strange thing, that on the day I was married, JC T[rewin] sent Michael and myself a sepia photograph of Mary Anderson, saying, 'You may or may not know this, but during the time that she was doubling Hermione and Perdita, she got married in exactly the same church that you're marrying today.'
Presenter asks
Judy, have you planned your career?
No, I haven't. No, I in no way. I would I I can't plan anything, Roy. I'm very bad at that, because every time I imagine that something will happen, or I plan it, there's the man with the bucket of ice cold water right round the corner.
“I must say when I was asked I thought it was a joke. I said to my agent, 'This has to be this is somebody ringing up.'”
“I find them taxing and I find them difficult to do. I I find it difficult to sustain ... the same standard every night.”
“I enjoy that challenge. I think it is more difficult to do the long run of the same play.”
“I can't plan anything, Roy. I'm very bad at that, because every time I imagine that something will happen, or I plan it, there's the man with the bucket of ice cold water right round the corner.”