Judi Dench says it was Daniel Craig's idea to off M
Dame Judi Dench has a new memoir out, and the legendary actor is sharing her experiences working on the 007 franchise—including her feelings on the evening she learned she'd no longer be playing M.
In her new memoir, Is It Too Late To Make A Run For It?, Dame Judi Dench recounts her experiences working on the iconic Bond franchise. The book, released by St. Martin’s Press, delves into her life and career in conversation with actor and director Brendan O’Hea. As a former M for MI6, Dench’s tenure in the role generated significant buzz, particularly with the upcoming release of a new James Bond film and the accompanying role of Q, Moneypenny, a new villain, and M. A Variety excerpt reveals that Dench learned her character, M, would no longer remain hidden behind her desk, leading to her demise in the 2012 film Skyfall.
She revealed that she was taken to the Wolseley restaurant by Barbara, Michael, and Sam—Mendes, the director—alongside Daniel Craig, who informed her of the plot to kill her off. Dench expressed her previous desire to leave her desk job and experience the glamorous aspects of the franchise, only to be replaced by Daniel Craig. Despite her initial disappointment, she lamented that the press claimed she had cried when learning about her dismissal, which was far from the truth.
Dench also shared her dissatisfaction with her final scene in the sequel to Skyfall, Spectre, where she had to appear on a television screen, stating that she still remains upset about it.
Written by urgent.news from The A.V. Club's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
