Judi Dench recounts how she left a bonfire in the Scottish woods with her ill husband. Then Robin Williams appeared with a quiet offer of help
‘Well, I think I’ll ride shotgun anyway.’
Judi Dench recently shared a touching story about a quiet moment of kindness from Robin Williams during a difficult night in the Scottish woods. According to PEOPLE, the veteran actress, who is 91, recounts this memory in her upcoming memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It?, which hits shelves on November 3, 2026. This book, written with her longtime collaborator Brendan O’Hea, offers a deep look into her long life and career.
The story centers on a time when Dench was staying at the home of actor Billy Connolly in Scotland. She was with her husband, Michael Williams, who was very ill at the time. Michael died in 2001, but the memory of this specific night remains vivid for Dench. She describes a large party taking place in the woods, complete with a bonfire and a ceilidh.
Dench noticed that her husband was struggling as the night went on. “Michael was very ill at the time and I could see him flagging, so we said our good nights and began walking up this very steep hill,” she recalled.
As they made their way up the incline, Robin Williams appeared to offer his support
The two actors had worked together before, as they both appeared in the 1996 film adaptation of Hamlet, directed by Kenneth Branagh. Williams also famously presented Dench with the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love at the 71st Academy Awards in 1999.
“Robin Williams appeared beside us and offered to help, but Michael said he could manage,” Dench continues. Williams did not push the issue, but he did not simply walk away either. “And Robin said, ‘Well, I think I’ll ride shotgun anyway’, which was such a lovely thing to say. I’ve often thought about that moment – Robin’s sensitivity and understanding, just offering to be there, gently supportive, without imposing himself.”
This moment stands out to Dench as a testament to the character of Williams, who died by suicide on August 11, 2014, at age 63. It shows a side of the performer that was quiet and observant, rather than the high-energy persona often seen on screen.
The memoir explores many other parts of Dench’s life too
This includes her childhood and her enduring love for Michael. Revisiting her relationship with her late husband proved to be one of the most difficult parts of writing the book. The loss is still something she carries with her every single day. “I still miss him,” Dench says. “Even now, 25 years on, I imagine he’s going to walk in through the front door.”
Dench found it surprising how clearly she could recall details from her distant past, even when recent events become harder to keep track of. She remembers her childhood with striking clarity, including the mischief she caused at school. She admits to setting off fire extinguishers and tying her classmates to their chairs, per Reality Tea.
The book also covers her professional life, including her time playing M in the James Bond films and her extensive work with the Royal Shakespeare Company and in London’s West End. She reflects on her interactions with other icons of the industry, such as Sophia Loren and Sidney Poitier. Seeing Poitier was enough to make her emotional before he even said a word.
At 91, Dench is still thinking about the work she did and the paths she did not take. She mentions that she once dreamed of becoming a ballerina and later considered a career in stage design. She also points to Cressida in Shakespeare’s Troilus and Cressida as a role that still intrigues her, even after all these years.
The memoir is published by St. Martin’s Press and is currently available for preorder. The book is not just a list of credits, but a personal reflection on memory, grief, and the people who have made a lasting impression on her life.
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