Judi Dench on Being Wooed by Vin Diesel and Kenneth Branagh

Judi Dench, the 91-year-old renowned actress, recently shared some captivating anecdotes from her career. During a conversation with Brendan O’Hea for her memoir titled Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, she recounted the elaborate gestures actors made to persuade her into joining their projects.

One story involved actor Vin Diesel. Dench revealed that Diesel went through great efforts to have her join his 2004 sci-fi film The Chronicles of Riddick. Before his visit to the Haymarket Theatre, Diesel sent Dench a bouquet so large it could not reach her dressing room and had to be left at the stage door.

They were easily the length of a kayak.

Dench, charmed by his grand gesture, humorously admitted, “You can’t say no to a man like that, can you? I’m cheap as chips, me. Far too easily wooed.” She went on to star alongside Diesel, taking on the role of Aereon, an alien ambassador guiding Diesel’s character, Riddick.

Dench also spoke of Kenneth Branagh’s successful gesture. He won her over with a personalized embroidered handkerchief while persuading her to join Murder on the Orient Express. Dench affectionately called him sneaky but admitted she would readily accept roles under his direction any day.

On joining Branagh’s film, she remarked about discovering its star-studded cast, including Olivia Colman, Penélope Cruz, Johnny Depp, and Derek Jacobi, which she found irresistible. Despite not being fond of her character, Princess Natalia Dragomiroff, Dench reflected positively on her experience.

The memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, is available for purchase.