Dame Judi’s at war with Branagh over Shakespeare
THEY are two of our most celebrated actors, noted for their Shakespearean roles.
But it seems that Dame Judi Dench and Sir Kenneth Branagh haven’t always seen eye to eye over the Bard.
The 79-year-old actress has teased Sir Kenneth, 53, for refusing to take her advice when she was directing a stage version of Much Ado About Nothing in which he appeared.
She also claims the actor and director stole her ideas for a film version of the play, which he directed
‘He left because he knew I was coming’
five years later and which became a box office hit.
Dame Judi made her debut as a director in 1988 while working for Branagh’s Renaissance Theatre Company, which was touring Britain. She directed a version of Much Ado About Nothing, set in the Napoleonic era, and starred Sir Kenneth and Samantha Bond as the lead characters Benedick and Beatrice.
However, she recalled: ‘They went to Brighton and I went down to see the show to give them notes if they needed any, which they did, and Ken Branagh left the theatre because he knew I was coming with the notes.’
She added: ‘Ken Branagh, he stole all my ideas for the film.’
Speaking at a fundraising event in London for the Acting For Others charity, Dame Judi recalled her time working for the Renaissance Theatre Company, saying: ‘It was a bit lonely. It’s hideous as the actors gang up against you.’
Sir Kenneth’s film version of Much Ado About Nothing was released in 1993 and starred the actor as Benedick with his then wife Emma Thompson as Beatrice.
It earned more than £20million in worldwide sales, making it one of the most successful Shakespeare-based films ever released.
Sir Kenneth j oined the Royal Shakespeare Company at 23 and in 1987 founded The Renaissance Theatre Company. He found fame in the TV series Fortunes Of War in 1987 before going on to star in Henry V, which he also directed.
He has been nominated for five Oscars, won three Baftas and was knighted in 2012.
Dame Judi made her professional acting debut in 1957 in Hamlet at the Old Vic. She took over the role of M in the James Bond films in 1995.