Dame Judi Dench has recalled how young dancers on the set of the 2019 film adaptation of Cats were left exhausted and ignored between takes, sharing her experience in her forthcoming memoir. The 91-year-old actress, who portrayed Old Deuteronomy in the musical film, reflects on the production in Is It Too Late To Make a Run For It?, discussing her discomfort with the role and her observations of the dancers working on set.
'I didn't like the way the young dancers were left hanging at the end of each take. They'd stand there exhausted and be completely ignored,' Dench writes, according to an excerpt from the memoir published by The Guardian and reported by People on Tuesday, 20 October.
Her comments offer a personal account of the filming experience, which involved a large ensemble of actors, singers and professional dancers. Dench also reflects on her reservations about the finished film, describing it as 'a waste of all that goodwill and talent'. Despite appearing in the adaptation, the actress says she has never watched the final cut.
Judi Dench Felt Uneasy in 'Cats' Role
Directed by Tom Hooper, Cats was released in December 2019 as a film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's long-running stage musical, which was based on poems by T. S. Eliot. The production featured a high-profile cast that included Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Idris Elba, Ian McKellen, James Corden, Rebel Wilson and Royal Ballet principal Francesca Hayward. Dench played Old Deuteronomy, the wise leader of the Jellicle cats.
In her memoir, Dench reveals that she felt uncomfortable with the role from the beginning. 'I just didn't feel right in the role,' she writes, explaining that she felt ill at ease during the production. She also recalls spending extended periods sitting in her trailer without being required for filming.
Her recollections of the dancers focus on what she observed at the end of takes, when performers were left standing despite their exhaustion. She does not specify how often this happened or identify who was responsible for the situations she describes. The comments therefore reflect Dench's personal experience on set rather than an independently established account of the treatment of every dancer involved in the film.
'Cats' Dancers Faced Long Hours During Filming
Behind-the-scenes coverage published at the time provides additional context about the physical demands of making Cats. In December 2019, Pointe magazine spoke to dancers Francesca Hayward, Steven McRae and Robbie Fairchild about their experiences working on the adaptation. The report described a demanding schedule that included early-morning ballet classes, rehearsals and filming days lasting around 12 hours.
The dancers followed this routine for approximately four months. Hayward, who played Victoria, was required for almost every scene and had to balance the film's schedule with her professional dance commitments.
'I was involved in every single scene, so there wasn't much rest for me,' Hayward told Pointe.
The production also presented challenges because the performers had to work on scenes out of sequence. Unlike a stage performance, where a dance number is usually rehearsed and performed as a continuous piece, filming required the cast to repeat movements and revisit scenes for multiple takes.
The dancers had to combine physical choreography with singing and adapt to the technical requirements of the film. Motion-capture suits were used during filming, with computer-generated effects added later to create the characters' feline appearances.
According to Pointe, the repeated performances could be physically demanding, and the dancers learned to use available breaks to rest their bodies. However, the report does not independently confirm Dench's specific recollection that young dancers were ignored after takes.
Judi Dench Calls 'Cats' a 'Waste of Goodwill and Talent'
Dench's concerns about the production extend beyond the treatment of the dancers. In her memoir, she also reflects on the film's reception and the disappointment she felt about the finished project.
'Oh God, I can't bear it,' she writes, explaining why she has not watched the final cut. She also acknowledges that critics were hostile towards the film but says she cannot judge the completed version because she has never seen it.
'Nobody sets out to give a poor performance or make a bad film,' Dench writes. 'You do your best, offer something up and hope that people will get on board and join the party.'
The actress also says she doesn't believe there were villains behind the film, adding that unsuccessful productions can still teach lessons to the people who worked on them.
Her reflections acknowledge the effort invested in the adaptation while expressing her dissatisfaction with the experience and the final result. Dench previously criticised the appearance created for her character. In a 2020 interview with British Vogue, she compared the fur-covered costume to a 'battered, mangy old cat'.
'Cats' Received a Negative Critical Reception
Released in December 2019, Cats attracted widespread criticism, particularly for its computer-generated effects and the digital transformation of the actors into cats. The film attempted to translate the stage musical's distinctive visual style into a live-action production, combining elaborate sets, choreography, singing and digital effects. Despite the involvement of established actors, musicians and professional dancers, the adaptation struggled to win over critics.
Dench's memoir offers her perspective on making Cats, while Pointe's contemporary coverage documents the demanding schedules several dancers faced during production. The magazine's report does not independently verify her specific recollection that young performers were left exhausted and ignored after takes.
