Dame Judi Dench Reflects on the ‘Cats’ Film Disaster: ‘I Can’t Bear It’
Legendary actor Dame Judi Dench breaks her silence on the 2019 Cats film adaptation, discussing the project's failure in her new memoir. Read more here.
POLICY WIRE — London, United Kingdom — At 91 years old, Dame Judi Dench remains a titan of the stage and screen, boasting a career defined by her Oscar-winning turn in Shakespeare in Love and her long-running role as M in the James Bond franchise. However, the veteran performer is now addressing a less celebrated chapter of her filmography: the widely panned 2019 adaptation of the musical Cats.
In her upcoming memoir, titled Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It?, Dench offers a candid perspective on the production, which featured a star-studded cast including Taylor Swift, James Corden, and Idris Elba. Reflecting on the project, she remarked, Oh God, I can’t bear it – and [Lloyd Webber] had waited so long for it to be made. What a waste of all that goodwill and talent.
The film, which faced intense criticism for its CGI effects and poor box office performance, remains a sore spot for many involved. Dench noted that while she never viewed the final cut, she believes the team acted with good intentions. “There were no villains in the making of Cats,” she wrote, adding that she views the experience as a learning opportunity despite the hostile critical reception.
This marks the first time the actor has discussed the film in such depth. Previously, in 2020, she expressed confusion over her appearance as Old Deuteronomy, noting she had expected an elegant costume rather than the look of a “battered, mangy old cat.” She also famously reacted with humor to her Razzie nomination for the role, calling it a potential first in her career.
Dench is not the only cast member to avoid watching the finished product; James Corden admitted in 2019 that he had only heard negative reports about the film. Meanwhile, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber has been vocal about his disdain for the adaptation, previously stating that director Tom Hooper failed to consult the original creative team and describing the final result as ridiculous.
Reporting by Policy-Wire (PW)
