Dame Judi Dench stuns everyone with her Shakespeare sonnet reading | The Graham Norton Show - BBC
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- čas přidán 31. 10. 2023
- Legendary actor Dame Judi Dench left everyone stunned on The Graham Norton Show with her incredible reading of Shakespeare’s ‘Sonnet 29’ from memory.
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Together on Graham’s sofa this week: Dame Judi Dench, discussing her book 'Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent', the Terminator himself, Arnold Schwarzenegger, promoting his road map for life, 'Be Useful: Seven Tools For Life', top comedian and actor Jack Whitehall, and The Repair Shop’s Jay Blades, talking about his memoir 'Life Lessons'.
With music from the legendary Duran Duran, performing their new single, 'Black Moonlight'.
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It is one thing to read Shakespeare's works. It is quite another to hear an actor, the likes of Judy Dench, deliver them as naturally as if the words were her own. ♥
It truly is. Here she shows what a truly great performer she is by captivating everyone. Amazing talent.
Shakespeare is best seen rather than read.
@@gwine9087 Very true. I saw Dame Judi in I think 1987/8 at the Royal National Theater in "Anthony and Cleopatra". It was so wonderful to watch.
I think reading Shakespeare is just for learning the lines. Then once learned, recite and feel the beauty of those lines.
It’s the way her face goes from quite stern and then softens halfway through and emits the emotions of the words that sets her apart from others.
Regardless of the words she says, she acts from the heart.
I love how they were all silly and having fun then as she began to recite the sonnet the mood instantly changed into reverence for her as well as for Shakespeare’s words… beautiful
Even if you have no understanding of what is being said, she is able to touch your soul in a most profound way. She is extraordinary
What was the name of the sonnet? I feel like I’ve heard the first part before.
@@lynetteclauser3551
Sonnet 29: When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes
BY WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE
When, in disgrace with fortune and men’s eyes,
I all alone beweep my outcast state,
And trouble deaf heaven with my bootless cries,
And look upon myself and curse my fate,
Wishing me like to one more rich in hope,
Featured like him, like him with friends possessed,
Desiring this man’s art and that man’s scope,
With what I most enjoy contented least;
Yet in these thoughts myself almost despising,
Haply I think on thee, and then my state,
(Like to the lark at break of day arising
From sullen earth) sings hymns at heaven’s gate;
For thy sweet love remembered such wealth brings
That then I scorn to change my state with kings.
@@Gnostic72 Beautiful, Thank you.
Gave me chills
She’s an absolute treasure.
Tears…..so lovely
A national treasure 😏
Yes, she is.
Agreed! Classy and talented.
Dame Maggie Smith is a national Treasure. (Re: Tracy Ulman).
I love how she gathers and composes herself before the recitation. She, and the audience, come to a focus, and there is such presence in the delivery.
What a treasure! 😮😊💋
She owned the room. That's not easy to do. She could have kept going for another 20 minutes without losing it. A pro.
@@waterhead1027 No kidding, everyone, including me was literally hanging on her words. She's so talented and classy
Dame Judi does not compose herself, she gathers the audience, I think somehow she’s performed in front of live audiences before, such aplomb.
Exactly - she isn't "reading" anything as the title states - she's reciting beautifully!
Arnold “That was more dialog than I had in all my movies together!”
And it wasn't even 'dia'.
Arnold actually segued perfectly - he punctuated the moment with just the right amount of humor.
@NeonPixels81 I thought the same too. ❤
he actually has a great sense of humour. Look up his appearance on Conan O Brien's podcast, he's hilarious there too.
I love the absolute silence while she recites Shakespeare. Only on Graham Norton Show.
Whenever Dame Judi is on Graham's show, she's so charming that the male guests always have to make physical contact with her. Even Arnie does it here at 2:53, and watch whenever she's on the show, they practically all pet her.
Seriously- Dame Judi is just one of those people that defines class. She is so well carried and spoken, but also funny and a beautiful both in and out. I never get tired of her interviews with Graham.
And something else (that I find charming) is that she doesn't put on any airs and graces.
In the interview she did with Louis Theroux he put to her the well-held belief that she is widely considered to be a national treasure.
Dame Judi listened intently, but made it clear that she doesn't particularly like those types of descriptions of her.
She just showed why she is _Dame_ Judi Dench.
The entire audience was spellbound, you could have heard a pin drop, what a stunning rendition 💖
The absolute focus on Arnie's fact, he's literally recording that moment to enjoy over and over again watching a master of the craft.
I come back periodically to watch this...to listen to Dame Judi. She is simply amazing.
Brought tears to my eyes ... she delivered it with such emotion
Me too
Same
me too
Same
Me too
I'm 35 years old, and am willing to admit I've never really *got* Shakespeare. Certainly I appreciate the stories and whatnot, but have never really been moved by it. My dad passed away earlier this week and I stumbled upon this clip rather randomly, and, well...now I get it.
❤🫶
It takes a great deal of honesty to admit what you have admitted, and class to change your mind. I applaud you.
@@farje1
I second that, and also your comment! 👏
I'm so sorry for your loss. xx
So terribly sorry for your loss. Hugs sent your way.
In a matter of seconds, no exaggeration, she has us, carries us, with the sonnet ...... thrilling.
It's a sign of a masterful entertainer.
To capture an audience so suddenly, and have them so enthralled with her shows her abilities and skills as a performer to be on an unparalleled level.
As a poet since 1998 this brought tears to my eyes. How utterly graceful, thoughtful and well-articulated she recited this piece. The inflections in her voice, the pauses, the focus and intensity brought this to life to such a beautiful human degree.
"And we added 'Not to be' and blew up the castle" - I love seeing Dame Judi laugh at this! Graham Nortons couch delivers such great pairings!
Dench gives the most convincing reading of this sonnet I have ever heard--a reading, ironically, that is non-acted by this great actress, but instead is communicated straightforwardly and conversationally with moving intimacy.
You summed up her recitation perfectly - “communicated straightforwardly and conversationally with moving intimacy”
Well said!
The absolute silence while she was saying the sonnet. Magical!!
I didn’t make a peep and I’m just watching from home. lol
I think I forgot to breath
It’s very difficult for most to do but Dame Judy does it with such ease and poise and creates this stillness that you seldom see with actors, like you can hear a pin drop. You just want to hang on to every single word she says. Gaaa and that’s why she’s a national treasure
Absolutely, she didn't stand up at the end and make a grand gesture, or weep, the more still she became the more her words were palpable, you start to look at the little things. The communication in her eye as she remembers a loved one, the gentle smile marked with sadness. Incredible
Spellbinding!....although, I have read , and Dame Judy Dench may well know and , indeed taking nothing away from her magical talent, that Richard Burton could even recite a Sonnet backward ?!
@@sunilprinja9913 when and why would he ever need to do that?
I think, it was with Edward Kennedy , who also knew his Sonnets by heart and Richard Burton was competing with him in fun....?... that's what I read , second hand in an article somewhere....way back .....it might be in a biography?
And.... Your point?
I remember my teachers in school trying to explain to us how to read even the punctuation and line breaks in his works, because the cadence and rhythm were as important as the words themselves. However, it wasn't until just now, and seeing her performance, that I ever have truly appreciated the importance of that. She is a treasure.
That is just CRAZY.. not only that she could recall it all perfectly, but be able to deliver it with such passion and nuance on the spot. Genuinely impressive ❤
I think I literally stopped breathing towards the end of the sonnet. What an incredible woman, and talented actress
Beautiful. Her delivery is perfection. If only Shakespeare where here to hear her, he would cry at the Beauty of her words. Captivating.
It's his words; her performance.
@@interestedbystander196 His words...allegedly...
@@JapanFound If it wasn't written by Shakespeare, then it was written by another bloke called Shakespeare...
@@interestedbystander196 Or multiple authors, as was often the case in Elizabethan theatre...
@@JapanFound no 'allegedly' about it pal. Nobody only Shakespeare could have written Shakespeare.
I'm gobsmacked as always by Dame Judi Dench. Even if her eyes can't see, her heart always will. Bless you Dame Judi Dench
…not to mention her incredible memory!
she is not blind...
@@kattoneycliffe6715 except when she go out.... ( other clip of her and Graham going to see Cher ) 🤣
@@peterang6912 she's lost most of her sight from ageing. i think she's said she's legally blind at this point.
@@jemsplitter Yes, i didn't know that it was worse..
Through this talent, the poet lives again for just a moment.
I loved how she wrapped herself into to sonnet as she presented and literally was living what she was saying. Brava Dame Judi Dench❤😊
My appreciation of Shakespeare increases each time I hear Dame Judi Dench speak his words. Oh, that she had been my English literature teacher!
Stunning. A poem about being in love but you assume her late husband Michael Williams comes to mind for her at lines like ‘haply I think on thee’ and ‘thy sweet love remembered’. Very moving.
You can see it in here eyes when she delivered the lines.
I thought this too regarding her wonderful late husband.
It's also about ones own talents, grievances with God, jealousy, and learning to love, and how that makes it all ok.
Yes, I definitely thought that immediately while watching it,
That was my immediate thought too.
In spite of the title of this video, that was NOT a reading of Shakespeare. It was a recitation of a beautiful poem by someone who knows it by heart, understands it, and can convey the emotion behind it effortlessly. We love Judy Dench!
It's not just that she had it memorized, its that she could infuse it with the emotion and passion and lilt that it warranted. Masterful.
So many reasons why she is a dame, this is one for many
Nothing like a master class in Shakespeare.
I always imagined Shakespeare would really appreciate Dame Judi reciting his work.
Incredibly beautiful, so much emotion she nearly brought herself to tears. An absolute treasure
What a God given talent she has. So glad this was recorded.
I am obsessed with this recitation.
I love Dame Judi Dench. She's so classy and elegant but she's also down to earth and very approachable. ❤❤❤❤❤
Indeed. Maybe it's because she's British.... but also from Yorkshire in the north of England! 🙂
Judi Dench is absolutely iconic, and her delivery of Shakespeare is like a warm blanket, but this moment would have been wholly incomplete if they hadn’t mentioned Arnie’s Shakespearean offering in “The Last Action Hero”. I’d have been gutted beyond measure if they’d dropped that ball.
Absolutely, the juxtaposition has me rolling 😂
Loved it how the entire studio was absolutely silent while she was reciting that sonnet! Everyone in the audience (and on stage) recognized how beautiful was her performance. And she made it sound so natural - as if this centuries-old English was how she speaks everyday. Gorgeous!
Oh dear Ms. Dench. I wish she would record a few more sonnets. Listening to her speak this particular poem of someone rising out of envy and self-pity to acceptance of one's state through the love of another is just breathtaking. I had to listen a dozen times...simply gorgeous.
There is a cd called Shakespeare Exits and Entrances where she reads several….
Most of the sonnets are like this
only a British actor of her stature can easily carry Shakespeare into our ears and our hearts. His is not a read thing, but a spoken feeling. -C
Not only the Brits. Indeed, no modern dialect preserved the possess’d/least rhyme of the 17th century London dialect. Anyone who has listened closely to the original can do a performance as interesting. In fact, I don’t think her end stopping line 11 is what the text calls for. Arising ends on an unstressed syllable, there is no punctuation, therefore the line ought to enjambed, imho. Certainly the energy and expansion of 11-12a is intended to contrast with the endstopped lines preceding.
Waiting in breathless anticipation for your treatise on the errors that Michelangelo made on 'David', or even a short piece on the areas in which Pavarotti could touch up 'Nessun Dorma'.@@oldpossum57
@@oldpossum57 I heard a Kiwi actor, living in London, performing Shakespeare and he was superb.
@@jasonwhite1069 Nope. I will stick to my last. I have spent a lot of time with that sonnet. Verse supplies its own score. I prefer the score that the author provided than the one that Dench used. Consult the sonnet yourself.
How amazing that you are sitting and laughing along with the jokes and then, suddenly, for a couple of minutes you find yourself sitting in rapt attention watching a master do some Shakespeare! Goosebumps!
She makes Shakespeare relatable for us. Thank you Dame Judy.
She enabled us to hear the Bard's words clearly by explaining beforehand why Shakespeare's works are relevant to our lives, and then, with perfect cadence but, importantly, in conversational tone, spoke the lines with complete understanding so that their meaning was crystal to us, too.
Honestly this is such a ray of sunshine, such break in between all the bullsh*t, she had everyone spellbound. She unpacked her mastery and everyone immediately was ready to be charmed. That moment, it’s a reason to regain a bit of hope in our species honestly.
.you said it in one....Judy Dench and Shakespeare...two magicians of timelessness
Hear hear!!!!!!!!!
She delivers it slowly, so that one’s mind can absorb every pressing verb and envision every metaphor. The density of meaning in a single line from Shakespeare is truly amazing.
It makes perfect sense that it was the Bard who coined the phrase “brevity is the soul of wit.” (Hamlet Act II, Scene 2). Consider how much information was conveyed in that sonnet, in so few syllables.
Shakespearean actors know how to chew on dialogue and steal a scene, pretty much at will. Dench is no exception. She’s absolutely brilliant. Dench flips a switch, and suddenly nothing else matters-and I’m staring at my stupid phone getting misty. That’s an unreal power.
Her silences were powerful, no man dared interrupt her, no restless audience demanded a punch line.
I got goosebumps
I teared up.
YOU CAN SAY THAT AGAIN
OMG
She’s Britains National Treasure. She held the entire room in a magical spell as only a true legend can!
I’ve read interviews with actors who’ve worked with her and they all say how they can be sitting chatting and she’s being her usual ditzy self and then they call “action” and boom! she’s right in character and bossing the scene. I think we saw a little bit of that in this clip. Just magical. Love that woman❤️
What an amazing human being she is. What a gift to share space with her if only for a few minutes. The best part of this clip was that, even though she’s been immersed in Shakespeare since childhood, she is still moved almost to tears by his words.
Everyone is saying what a national treasure Dame Judi is, but I say she's a universal treasure for all of us to enjoy.
I totally agree.
Arnie’s rapt attention on Dame Judi was so gracious and genuine…he was really enjoying her contribution….says a lot about the biggest movie star of them all!
Is it just me or did anyone else tear up when she was reciting the sonnet??
What a wonderful actress Dame Judy Dench is
BEST CLIP EVER. You could hear a pin drop in the room while she was delivering that. I teared up! And the. Arnold being so funny and charming. And Graham- hilarious at the start.
This is like listening to Beethoven compose his Fifth Symphony before your eyes. She is luminescent. Perfection.
Goosebumps…. Anyone else?
Goosebumps on top of Goosebumps,......mesmerising.
I love Arnie... " that's more dialogue than in all my movies put together" ... Lol!
The guest test of an Actor is their ability to enthrall the common man with Shakespeare. The ability to entrance a person with something written in Old English is a true talent.
She really is incredible.
Wished they would show the audience at that moment, such power of the word coming through ages, the way everyone kept silent even after she finished
And Dame Dench knocks the ball right out of the park! Well done!!
What a treasure it is that we all live in times when we can hear the voice of The Bard carried forth so lovingly by actors such as Judi Dench, and then, carrying us in her hands and in her eyes to assist him in capturing us again, as if by magic.
He has the best talk show on television beats Americas talk shows!
Oh, my God! Just a few lines in and I’m welling up. What a divine combination, William Shakespeare and Dame Dench. ❤️❤️❤️
Hello 👋 Beautiful Lady 🌹.How are you and the weather condition like ?
I wouldn't have been able to stop myself from standing to clap for that. I simply couldn't have remain seated. Superb
I would have stood with you
That is why she IS Dame Judy Dench. She didn't even have to stand up.
In addition, she's a master class right there. I will refer to this video for inspiration as many times as needed.
Look at all the men's faces at 2:19.....They are deep in thought and focus. She KILLED IT!
the look on Arnolds face says it all.......magnificent
Arnie was spellbound....as was everyone in the studio...she's very special is our Dame Judi .
That was spectacular.
Dame Judi.There is no-one like her. Class. Grace and poise.
Always knew Judi was fantastic .. but to pull that out of the air so quickly and to speak it so well ... unreal ! Love ya Judi
I absolutely adore this woman, she should be protected at all costs.
Judy is the finest actress on the planet. Every performance she’s ever turned in is a gem. Shakespeare’s genius is made all the more profound by her. I would have loved to have seen Judy perform at the RSC
What really got to me, was the absolute awed silence, so absolute you could hear it. Sounds bonkers but I know what I mean! One .moment she was laughing,the next she began speaking and the whole atmosphere changed. Just magical! I don't want to question the why's and wherefores or it would not be magic, but she is really something else! A sort of magic elf with this special kind of energy...and that is what it is.Don't be cross with me for saying that!!!x
That is my absolute favorite sonnet and she spoke it better than I could ever read it.
Wow! She totally was in the flow! And it was so beautiful! Everyone went quiet, wow! Totally blew me away !
"It's like having a Shakespeare jukebox". Absolutely. Dame Judi Dench, ladies and gentlemen - she can do it all and do it so well that it stuns me
2:00 this is what respect looks like
She is so fabulous. This clip made me start re-watching "As Time Goes By".
Right? I just tested positive for covid after all this time and wow, As Time Goes By. What a great idea.
We won't forget that moment will we?❤
That brought tears to my eyes, Dame Judy Dench is a remarkable woman and a wonderful actress. She quoted that Shakespeare sonnet with such class and perfect elocution it was absolutely beautiful, I am extremely proud to be an English woman, and to have such a beautiful language as my own. 🏴 🇬🇧
The part about this which is exceptional is the little clap of the hands, bow of the head, and poise before she delivers it....she wants to do it justice so just gives herself a little time.
"Engage Shakespeare Mode"
Dame Judy's performance of lady Macbeth is still the greatest of all time,any and every woman who gets the part aspires to be half as good...... the way she delivers Shakespeare is like finally understanding what was difficult to get a grip on....
Just like her live performance of the song " send in the clowns" .... after hearing it many times she made sense of it.....
She is the real deal in every aspect of her work from song and dance to Shakespeare , from comedy to MI5 boss " M" ...I will watch anything she's in.......
@stevehilton4052 She elevated the role of "M" far beyond what it had ever been the Bond films. In Goldeneye in particular. A fierce and tragic figure of emotional complexity and nuance, portrayed with razor-sharp accuracy.
that brought tears to my eyes...Dame Judi never ceases to amaze me...
I never tire of watching this video. Dame Judy is a National Treasure and if I were to hazard a guess, when she said, " Happily I think on thee....." She was thinking of her beloved late husband.
She really is the epitome of every actors and actresses dream. Pure talent, pure skill and pure phenomenon. She really is one of the best actresses ever for me.
Gorgeous, she just draws you in, and makes the meaning so clear. I forget sometimes how wonderful Shakespeare's works are.
Dame Judi, what a class act!
It is an amazing transformation to watch. She lowers her head, and when she lifts it again, she IS the author of the sonnet. I think you can only get that ability through years acting live on stage. There is an energy between actor and audience that is missing in film.
Damie Judi is a formidable woman, such a talented actress, a stalwart in her profession and still full of surprises
I could honestly have sat and listened to her for an hour. It was completely captivating and had me totally immersed. An incredible skill from this Titan of an actress.
And that is why she is Judi Dench
Dame
Reminder that it is not merely Dame Judi whom they are applauding; but one of the greatest writers of all time. William Shakespeare was not just the finest writer in the English language, he *was* the English language.
I learned that sonnet over 40 years ago in high school. I could still recite it with Dame Judi and tears still came to my eyes.
Armies such a sweetheart.
It’s not a ‘reading’ if you do it by heart, surely? She’s the best.
Absolutely mesmerizing... imagine having a sonnet saved in your memory and being able to do such an interpretation without any preparation! Truly masterful
Dame Judi Dench...... FINALLY someone/something beautiful on CZcams.
She can read the phone book and she would still give a great performance; one of the most talented screen/theatre legends ever. On another note, you could see Arnold struggling, and probably failing, to understand a word of what she said, lol.
I doubt it. He's actually quite intelligent, and he's Austrian, which means he's more accustomed to literature and culture than an American or probably the average Brit too.
@@john.premose This has nothing to do with his intelligence or culture; it's about his mastery of the English language. Shakespeare is hard for native English speakers, let alone someone who speaks English as a second language, and not very well at that.
@@sammyt3514 why does it make you happy to think other people can't understand you? The English do this very often. They love to say how no one gets their comedy or humour. I don't know why this is such a source of satisfaction to believe this.
@@john.premose Why do you assume that I'm English (I'm not) or that I'm getting 'satisfaction' out of this (which is a weird thing to say)? This is only about how funny I found the quizzical look on Arnie's face was while Judi was reciting the sonnet; don't overthink it, and certainly don't make baseless assumptions.
@@sammyt3514 I know it's a weird thing to say. It's an even weirder thing to do, but the English constantly do it.
amazing how she can make speech more than just words - providing insight, emotion, empathy
So remarkable and so lovingly a quote with such emotion. Bill would be proud.
What a pro Judy Dench is. Lots of ❤ and respect from South Africa.