Over the course of four years, actor and director Brendan O’Hea and his good friend, actress Judi Dench, met regularly to discuss the Shakespeare plays in which she had performed, as well as a few she had directed. This book, drawn from transcripts of those conversations, features Dame Judi Dench sharing stories, anecdotes, and some playful gossip—mostly at her own expense. While her humor often focuses on her own quirks and missteps, the primary focus of the book is on the plays themselves, the characters she portrayed, and the timeless poetry of Shakespeare—the man who, as Dench notes, has “paid the rent” for countless actors over the years.

If you are a fan of Shakespeare, whether you are familiar with all or just some of his plays, you will find much to love and ponder in this memoir. It reflects a lifetime spent interpreting and performing his works. While readers may choose either to overlook or enjoy Ms. Dench’s irreverent humor and occasional coarse language, it’s worth noting her irreverence and sexual frankness reflect that of Shakespeare himself. And Judi Dench displays a true belief in Shakespeare’s genius—his mastery of the English language and his ability to write plays that resonate across time and cultures.

Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent is not your typical celebrity memoir. Rather, it serves as a thoughtful treatise on acting, especially when it comes to interpreting Shakespeare’s characters. Dench offers valuable insights into the intricacies of the roles she has played, demonstrating that she has deeply engaged with the text, carefully considering its meaning and its implications. The interviews also provide a rich personal history of British theater during the time Dench has been active (1957-2024), shedding light on the roles and productions that shaped her career. Her range as an actress is staggering, with memorable performances in both major and minor roles, including Ophelia in Hamlet, Lady Macbeth, Katharine in Henry V, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Adriana in The Comedy of Errors, Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing, Cleopatra in Antony and Cleopatra, and many more.

The book is filled with humor, particularly when Dench recounts her onstage mishaps—like the many times she fell unexpectedly or almost came onstage without her skirt. There’s also the incident where she sneezed while playing Juliet, during a scene where she was supposed to be dead—or at least feigning death. But the memoir is also deeply poignant, as Dench reflects on, or rather refuses to discuss, her fear of death, and tells how Shakespeare’s works have helped her process the grief of losing her husband, actor Michael Williams, and other theater friends. Some of these friends even have trees planted in her garden in their honor.

Published in 2024, when Dench was 80 years old, the book captures her in her seventies, still actively working in theater and film. She mentions her struggles with failing eyesight, yet she refuses to let this or any other obstacle deter her from continuing her career and growing as an artist. It’s Dench’s perspective, a blend of maturity, childlike wonder, humor, gratitude, and deep love for Shakespeare, that makes this memoir such a joy to read.

This book is recommended for adults who love Shakespeare, theater, or Judi Dench’s remarkable acting career. I read the book in a hardcover edition from the public library, but it is also available as an audiobook, read by Brendan O’Hea and Barbara Flynn (as Judi Dench). Content considerations include some language, explicit sexual jokes, innuendo, and adult themes.