LONDON — Judi Dench Says ‘Cats’ Film Was a ‘Waste’ of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Goodwill and Talent’
Judi Dench, who portrayed Old Deuteronomy in Tom Hooper’s Cats, looks back on the widely criticized film in her upcoming memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It?
Released in 2019, the movie adapted Andrew Lloyd Webber’s hugely successful musical of the same name. Despite featuring a star-studded cast that included Dench, James Corden, Idris Elba and Taylor Swift, the production was widely regarded as both a critical and commercial failure.
“Oh God, I can’t bear it – and [Lloyd Webber] had waited so long for it to be made,” Dench wrote. “What a waste of all that goodwill and talent. I understand the critics were rather hostile to the film. I never saw the final cut so I can’t judge. All I’ll say is nobody sets out to give a poor performance or make a bad film. You do your best, offer something up and hope that people will get on board and join the party.”
Dench was also nominated for a Razzie award for her performance in the film.
Reflecting more broadly on the entertainment industry, she added, “It’s a miracle that anything is ever made – films, plays, TV – let alone turn out to be a success, because there are so many moving parts.”
In her memoir, Dench also acknowledged that productions can fall short for a variety of reasons, even when those involved have good intentions.
“Sometimes things just don’t work out: the timing’s wrong, the cast don’t gel, the elements don’t coalesce,” she wrote. “But people’s intentions are mostly honorable. There were no villains in the making of Cats. And if something isn’t a success, then there are always things you can say you’ve learnt.”
Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It? will be released on Nov. 3.
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