Review: Dame Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea release ‘Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent’ book

Brendan O’Hea and Dame Judi Dench. Photo Credit: Sarah-Jane Field.

Dame Judi Dench, CH, and Brendan O’Hea released their new book “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent.”

For the first time ever, Dame Judi opens up about every Shakespearean role she has played throughout her illustrious acting career (which has spanned over seven decades). These roles include such timeless characters as Lady Macbeth and Titania to Ophelia and Cleopatra among many others.

In a series of intimate conversations with actor and filmmaker Brendan O’Hea, she guides us through Shakespeare’s plays with incisive clarity, revealing the secrets of her rehearsal process and inviting us to share in her triumphs, disasters, and backstage shenanigans.

While she has always been rather quiet about her approach to acting, she gets candid about it in this book. It is evident Shakespeare helped mold her into the actress and thespian that she is today.

When it comes to Shakespearean sonnets, it seems like she has some sort of photographic memory, where she can recite them verbatim to this day.

An Academy Award winner, Dame Judi shares her insights on everything from the craft of speaking in verse to her personal interpretations of some of Shakespeare’s most famous scenes, all brightened by her mischievous sense of humor, striking level of honesty and hilarious anecdotes, many of which have remained secretive until now.

For well over 370 pages, this book feels like an “Intimate Portrait” of Dame Judi Dench, where the audience has a front row seat to watch her and in a sense have tea with her as she opens up about the impact that Shakespeare had on her career.

In addition, many of her actual illustrations are featured throughout the book, and that is an added bonus.

The Verdict

Overall, “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” by Dame Judi Dench and Brendan O’Hea is heartfelt, witty, clever, cheeky, and informational.

This book is a must for any Shakespeare or Dame Judi Dench fan or enthusiast. Its syntax is impressive, and it is well-organized. “Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” garners an A rating.

“Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays the Rent” is available on Amazon by clicking here.