Stages in an acting life

And Furthermore

Dench ascended to the level of national treasure in Britain so long ago that it’s a surprise to read details of her childhood and school days. You wouldn’t have been stunned to hear she had sprung fully-formed, a theatrical grande dame trailing acting awards and garlands.

One of the more enlightening discoveries in the book is that this icon of Englishness has strong Irish roots — her mother was from Dublin, and her father was brought up there. A GP, he was a keen amateur actor, while her mother made theatrical costumes. The acting bug was catching, as she followed her brother, Peter, to the Central School of Speech and Drama.