Dame Judi Dench, 91, has shared a poignant detail from her 30-year marriage to the late Michael Williams in her new memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? The actress revealed that Williams sent her a rose every Friday during their marriage, a tradition that spanned 29 years and 355 weeks.
The revelation came during her appearance on The Graham Norton Show, where she discussed the memoir co-written with actor and director Brendan O'Hea. Dench, who lives with severe central vision loss, described the book as a collaborative effort. "He wrote it by stealth," she said. "We are such great friends that he sort of crept up on me. I have no idea how long it took to write. We would just chat and he would write."
The memoir also includes reflections on Dench’s career and personal life, including her approach to choosing roles. In an excerpt from the book, she recalled her late husband’s influence on her professional decisions. "When Mikey was alive, he would read any scripts I’d been sent and I’d totally trust his judgement," she wrote. Dench emphasized the importance of trust in her collaborations, noting that Williams’ guidance was pivotal in her career choices.
Williams, a fellow actor, passed away in 2001 at the age of 65 after a battle with lung cancer. The couple, who met in the 1970s, shared one daughter, Finty Williams, now 54. Dench has previously opened up about her marriage in a 2023 documentary, Tea with Judi, where she and Kenneth Branagh discussed her life and career.
The memoir, published by St. Martin’s Press, offers a blend of personal anecdotes and professional insights. Dench and O’Hea’s conversational style aims to provide readers with an intimate look at her extraordinary life, from her early days in Shakespearean theatre to her iconic roles in film and television. The book is set to be released alongside Dench’s appearance on CBS Sunday Morning with Seth Doane on November 8.