Dame Judi Dench has spent decades entertaining audiences, but one of her most memorable screen exits came at the suggestion of a fellow Bond star. The 91-year-old British actress has revealed in her new memoir that Daniel Craig apparently wanted her character, M, killed off in Skyfall. Her recollections also revisit her marriage, her friendship with Robin Williams and the experiences that shaped a remarkable acting career.
Why Everyone Is Talking About Them
Dench's latest memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, has brought several personal and professional stories back into the spotlight. Among them is her account of how she discovered that M would die in the 2012 James Bond film Skyfall, alongside Daniel Craig's apparent involvement in the decision.
The revelation has attracted particular attention because Dench was one of the franchise's most recognisable recurring performers. She first appeared as M in 1995's GoldenEye, opposite Pierce Brosnan, and continued through the transition to Craig's version of 007.
Her character brought a different dynamic to the traditionally male-dominated Bond films. Dench particularly enjoyed being able to challenge Bond rather than simply follow his instructions. In her memoir, she recalls enjoying the opportunity to tell the men around M where to get off and put them in their place.
For British audiences, the story also offers a fresh glimpse into the decisions behind one of the country's best-known film franchises. Rather than simply revisiting a famous death scene, Dench has explained how the decision was presented to her and how she felt about leaving the role.
What Happened
According to Dench, she was invited to London's Wolseley restaurant by Bond producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G Wilson, alongside director Sam Mendes. They outlined the story for Skyfall and explained that her character would be killed.
In an extract from the memoir, reported by HuffPost UK, Dench recalled the meeting and the news about M's fate. She also revealed the detail that has become the focus of the latest coverage: apparently, Craig had suggested killing her character.
Skyfall eventually showed M fatally wounded during a gunfight, dying in Bond's arms. Although Dench's main run as M ended with that film, she returned briefly through a pre-recorded video message in Spectre.
The actress also addressed reports suggesting she had cried when told she would be leaving the franchise. She rejected that account, pointing instead to the length and success of her time in the series.
Of course I didn’t cry. Why on earth would I cry after 20 glorious years and eight Bond films?
She also pointed out that her eight Bond films amounted to one more than Roger Moore's total. Moore had previously held the record for the longest-running actor in the 007 role.
What They Said
Dench's comments about Craig are not entirely critical. Her memoir presents the decision as part of the creative direction taken during his time as Bond, while also acknowledging her own frustration with the character's earlier limitations.
She had spent much of her early Bond appearances behind a desk and recalled repeatedly asking the production team to give her more physical involvement. Her eventual opportunity to leave that office came with a dramatic consequence: M was shot.
Dench also had a humorous recollection of her relationship with the character's successor. Ralph Fiennes, who took over as M, was responsible for firing her character in Skyfall. Dench joked about having to endure the indignity of being dismissed by him.
Elsewhere in the memoir, she revisited her experience making the 2019 musical film Cats. Despite its high-profile cast, she described the production as a disappointing experience, calling it a waste of the goodwill and talent involved. She also explained that she had never watched the completed film, so could not judge the final result herself.
The Reaction
The Bond revelation is only one part of the renewed interest in Dench's memoir. Her reflections on her late husband, Michael Williams, have also attracted considerable attention, offering a more intimate picture of the actress away from the screen.
Williams died on 11 January 2001, aged 65. The couple had married in 1971, and Dench has described how deeply she continues to miss him more than two decades later.
In comments reported by AOL, she recalled how she sometimes still imagines him walking through the front door. The memory has resonated alongside another story involving actor Robin Williams, who offered gentle support to the couple during Michael's illness.
Dench remembered an evening at Billy Connolly's home in Scotland, where a party in the woods included a ceilidh and bonfire. When Michael became tired during their walk home, Robin Williams appeared and offered to accompany them. Dench remembered the gesture as an example of his sensitivity and understanding.
The actress also revisited her childhood and earlier career ambitions, including her interest in becoming a ballerina and her fascination with stage design. These stories add another dimension to a memoir that moves between professional achievements, personal loss and lighter memories.
Her everyday interests have attracted attention too. A recent Good Housekeeping feature highlighted her favourite bread and butter pudding, which uses panettone instead of ordinary bread. Dench also shared a childhood memory of secretly eating condensed milk directly from a tin, using a ruler as an improvised utensil.
What Happens Next
Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? was released on 3 November 2026. Co-written with Brendan O'Hea, the book brings together recollections from Dench's childhood, personal relationships and extensive acting career.
Its publication gives readers an opportunity to hear these stories in Dench's own words, rather than relying solely on individual interviews or reports about her past. The Bond revelations are particularly timely as attention turns towards the next actor expected to take on 007.
Dench's account also offers a reminder of how significantly the franchise changed during Craig's tenure. M's death became one of the defining moments of Skyfall, while Craig's own Bond eventually met an explosive end in No Time to Die.
Beyond the memoir, Dench's recent reflections on her lifestyle have highlighted her enjoyment of swimming at her Surrey home. A Women's Health report noted that she regularly takes laps in the swimming pool in her garden, despite previously joking that she was not an enthusiastic exerciser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Judi Dench's character killed in Skyfall?
Dench revealed in her memoir that Daniel Craig apparently suggested killing M. The character was fatally wounded during a gunfight in the 2012 film Skyfall.
How many James Bond films did Judi Dench appear in?
Dench appeared in eight Bond films, beginning with GoldenEye in 1995 and continuing through Skyfall in 2012, with a brief recorded appearance in Spectre.
What is Judi Dench's new memoir called?
Her memoir is titled Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It? and was released on 3 November 2026.
What happened to Judi Dench's husband, Michael Williams?
Michael Williams died on 11 January 2001, aged 65. Dench has spoken about continuing to miss him more than 25 years after his death.
Did Judi Dench return to James Bond after Skyfall?
Yes. Although M died in Skyfall, Dench returned through a pre-recorded video message in the 2015 film Spectre.