(Trailer runs)
CHARLIE ROSE: Also joining me is the director of the film, Stephen Frears. I am pleased to have both of them at this table. I should say that we -- the two of us got him while he was waiting...
JUDI DENCH: We did. We bagged him.
CHARLIE ROSE: We bagged him -- bagged him would be the right word, wouldn't it?
JUDI DENCH: Kidnap...
CHARLIE ROSE: Took him hostage.
JUDI DENCH: We did.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, so it's good to have you here. An unexpected ...
STEPHEN FREARS:
CHARLIE ROSE: ... thrill for us.
STEPHEN FREARS: An honor.
CHARLIE ROSE: In fact, she was going to say he's in there. I thought, we have got to get him then. You want to make a movie and you have a chance to hire her in a ...
STEPHEN FREARS: No, no, no, no. No, no, no. I was hired by her.
CHARLIE ROSE: Is that right?
JUDI DENCH: It wasn't really right.
STEPHEN FREARS: It was. I was taken out to lunch and I was told that Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins would like me to direct them in...
JUDI DENCH: That is true.
CHARLIE ROSE: Really?
JUDI DENCH: Yes. And it all happened very, very, very quickly.
CHARLIE ROSE: So, why did you want him?
JUDI DENCH: Oh, well, that's a long story. That's a long story. It goes back a long way.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: But it is true. Bob -- Bob Hoskins heard about -- heard about this story ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: ... from a neighbor ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: ... who collected programs ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Tell me what the story is.
JUDI DENCH: The story is these -- these -- these friends of his collected Windmill programs and used to say, Vivian Van Damm presents. And suddenly it said, Mrs. Laura Henderson -- Mrs. Henderson presents. And they thought, who is this person? And they went then down that path and found out about this curious and eccentric British woman.
CHARLIE ROSE: It's a great story. Laura Henderson -- who I didn't know anything about, I've never heard --- you have never heard of her.
STEPHEN FREARS: (INAUDIBLE)
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah. It turns out that she during the war took over this
theater in Soho.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. She -- her -- her ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Before the war.
CHARLIE ROSE: Before the war, it was before the war.
JUDI DENCH: Her husband died and her son had been killed in the first world war, and she had a lot of money. And her great friend, Lady Conway, says, well, now you have got time to spend it on things. And so, the next thing she does is she buys this theater, not knowing anything about it.
CHARLIE ROSE: And then -- so, how do we get this idea of the nudity? Where does that come from?
JUDI DENCH: That came because they did continuous review. They said -- what we'll do in this (INAUDIBLE), we'll do a revue, and they did that, and it was hugely successful. But then all the other theaters started doing it. So, then the count started to look rather grim at the Windmill, and she said I'll tell you what we'll do, we'll take the clothes off. And it was only because of her association and friendship with the Lord Chamberlain that that was able to happen.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. So, you now -- they've hired you to direct.
STEPHEN FREARS: They've hired me. And, you know, I'm not quite sure what
you're supposed to say when you're asked that question. Anyway...
CHARLIE ROSE: They hired you.
STEPHEN FREARS: I said yes. Without quite knowing what the story was. Eventually, I read the script.
CHARLIE ROSE: Eventually.
STEPHEN FREARS: And the script ...
CHARLIE ROSE: And liked it?
STEPHEN FREARS: And the script was great.
CHARLIE ROSE: And so you've got to direct Dame Judi Dench and Bob Hoskins.
STEPHEN FREARS: And five naked girls.
CHARLIE ROSE: And five naked girls. This is easy, isn't it?
JUDI DENCH: That's not quite the right billing.
CHARLIE ROSE: How was the billing?
JUDI DENCH: He had to direct five naked girls and Judi and Bob.
(LAUGHTER)
CHARLIE ROSE: Now, what do you like about this movie?
JUDI DENCH: I like it because it is, it is in fact, an entirely true story ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah, right.
JUDI DENCH: ... and that it s incredibly courageous at a time when -- I mean, she could have easily sat back, but it's a time when people needed a bit of a ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: ...treat.
CHARLIE ROSE: It was like the only theater that -- that actually kept -- one of two, I think -- that kept on performing during the war.
STEPHEN FREARS: I think it did it every night. I think a lot of other theaters were open a lot of nights ...
CHARLIE ROSE: OK, yes. But every night...
JUDI DENCH: Every night ...
CHARLIE ROSE: ... on occasion they had to go into the basement because of the bombing, is that right?
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, the theater was on the ground so I guess the bombs literally couldn't get there.
JUDI DENCH: They did three continuous performances every day.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: Fantastic. Brave.
CHARLIE ROSE: And challenge for you?
JUDI DENCH: Yes, lots of it.
CHARLIE ROSE: Really?
JUDI DENCH: Oh, yes. Oh, yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Now, do you like light stories like this? I mean, this is both -- there's a certain wit and -- and comedy about this.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. But a kind of also -- I just think it s a bit of a life force.
CHARLIE ROSE: Kind of great storytelling...
JUDI DENCH: Yes. And people ought to know that that happened. And ought to know about her. I'm sorry that she's a forgotten person.
CHARLIE ROSE: But she won't be anymore.
JUDI DENCH: She will not be anymore.
CHARLIE ROSE: Mrs. Henderson.
JUDI DENCH: No.
CHARLIE ROSE: And then after her death, did -- she left it
to her daughter? Is that correct?
JUDI DENCH: She left it to Vivian Van Damm.
CHARLIE ROSE: Then he left it to his daughter...
STEPHEN FREARS: His daughter.
CHARLIE ROSE: His daughter, right.
STEPHEN FREARS: But by then the world had changed and strip clubs were coming in.
CHARLIE ROSE: And is now -- it's now like a ...
STEPHEN FREARS: It's a lap dancing ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Lap dancing place.
JUDI DENCH: Which I suspect she would have approved of. She would have thought, oh, I'm sorry I didn't think of that.
STEPHEN FREARS: That's ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Still, but do you direct her, Judi?
STEPHEN FREARS: Judi?
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: Oh, he certainly does.
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, she's really good. So, it's not quite the way you imagine it.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: But you know, you know, you conduct some kind of conversation with her.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, you do? About -- this is what I'd like this to be.
JUDI DENCH: Could you do it better, he says? That's what he always
says.
CHARLIE ROSE: He says that to you?
JUDI DENCH: It is -- he says ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Don t you have something better in you?
JUDI DENCH: You've put me in a place that I don't belong, you know. I get bossed about a lot, told what to do.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: And he directed the Spice Girls.
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, you do get bossed about a lot.
JUDI DENCH: I do.
CHARLIE ROSE: Would you take it easily?
JUDI DENCH: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, very gracefully.
CHARLIE ROSE: Gracefully. This is Dame Judi Dench. This is not just an actress.
STEPHEN FREARS: I can't believe an American is impressed by this.
English people are supposed to be impressed.
CHARLIE ROSE: I'm impressed by talent.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: You know. And her sexiness and her ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: ... you know, all of that.
STEPHEN FREARS: It's -- that's all good fun.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah, what -- did -- you've got a new "James Bond" too.
JUDI DENCH: I have.
CHARLIE ROSE: You know.
JUDI DENCH: Whom I haven't met yet.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: It seems like an interesting chap, a blonde-headed -- and he was terrific in -- do you know this...
STEPHEN FREARS: I've met him, yes, he is a very good actor.
CHARLIE ROSE: A very good actor.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes. A very good actor.
CHARLIE ROSE: You like it -- other than the fact that they pay you supremely well, you like doing that because?
JUDI DENCH: Because I get to wear usually a very nice suit.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. Good reason.
JUDI DENCH: And I get to work some kind of gadget that not in my wildest dreams ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Would you work ...
JUDI DENCH: ..could I ever possibly work. I can't work the ironing board.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. Yes. But are you sort of a fixture for every one of them? I mean, do you have a contract that says I'll be in the next five?
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, you're -- you're the boss.
CHARLIE ROSE: You're the boss?
JUDI DENCH: I'm the boss.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: And we'll come back to "Mrs. Henderson Presents." And this is a scene in which you're talking about the theater's finances with Bob Hoskins, who is obviously Mr. Van Damm. Here it is.
(Film clip is played)
CHARLIE ROSE: There -- here's what the critics are saying about this, that this somehow -- that she, this character, Laura Henderson, and this role is made for you. Made for you.
JUDI DENCH: Oh, I would prefer if they said, I was made for her. Do you know what I mean?
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: I don't like it when it's -- because people level at me, you know, oh, is, you know, what do you like about her? I don't like anything about her. I just, you know, you can't only play who you like. I suppose I contain -- I'm not brave like she is. I suppose I have a side to me which I like playing practical jokes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: And I like the kind of mischievousness of her.
CHARLIE ROSE: People all say that about you. Mischievousness.
JUDI DENCH: Yes, and I quite like the silliness of her.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: You know.
CHARLIE ROSE: So, but -- but -- you don't like the idea that this is a role made for you, because it suggests it doesn't require as much of your talent to be employed? You just have got to be?
JUDI DENCH: Yes, and -- yes, I think you just mess about and just do your own thing. And I'd like to think that that isn't quite so.
CHARLIE ROSE: Is it as hard as, say, other roles?
JUDI DENCH: Well, it's harder ... (CROSSTALK)
CHARLIE ROSE: ... for you carrying the movie -- as you are carrying this movie. What?
JUDI DENCH: It's harder than Lady Macbeth. When you've got to find out what makes her tick, you know.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. It's not harder than Lady Macbeth.
JUDI DENCH: No, it isn't.
CHARLIE ROSE: No.
JUDI DENCH: No, it isn't nearly as hard ...
CHARLIE ROSE: No.
JUDI DENCH: ... as Lady Macbeth or Mother Courage or any of those ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: ... women.
CHARLIE ROSE: Are they -- did you -- are they your favorites, Shakespearian characters?
JUDI DENCH: A lot of them are my favorites, but not necessarily. I
mean, I -- I like doing David Hare a lot. I like doing those plays, you
know. But it is just that it gives you, you know, that -- that those
Shakespeare plays have been done and done and done, and ...
CHARLIE ROSE: So, as you said to me, Michael Boyd is doing the whole cannon next year.
JUDI DENCH: They are.
CHARLIE ROSE: Every one of them.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. Not -- not that one company. They're bringing in all sorts of companies from everywhere.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: It should be very exciting.
CHARLIE ROSE: How is the Old Vic doing under Kevin Spacey?
JUDI DENCH: Well, I think it's doing all right.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, this year is better than last.
JUDI DENCH: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: They say.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. Yes. Yes, I think it's doing OK. And he stuck to it. And he's determined.
CHARLIE ROSE: Bravo for him.
JUDI DENCH: Yes, I quite agree.
CHARLIE ROSE: You know, I mean "Richard II," they said -- did you just see "Richard II?"
STEPHEN FREARS: No, I didn't.
CHARLIE ROSE: Do you live in London?
STEPHEN FREARS: I live in London.
CHARLIE ROSE: And you haven't seen "Richard II?"
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, I've been making a film. That's quite demanding.
CHARLIE ROSE: Do you have an opportunity to pick and choose? Are there that many films out there that -- that you can direct so you can pretty much say ...
STEPHEN FREARS: I'm not quite to the point...
CHARLIE ROSE: ... where I can pretty much say I'm only going to do something that really turns me on.
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, I'm very lucky, but it's not quite like, oh, I think I ll do that.
CHARLIE ROSE: Not yet.
STEPHEN FREARS: Generally speaking there's one very good thing.
CHARLIE ROSE: Always on your plate, there's always one opportunity.
STEPHEN FREARS: There's one good thing that grabs you.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: That's what I found in my life. But there aren't six good things. And it isn't just saying, oh, well, I could do that or I could do a multibillion -- you know, it isn't -- those choices never present themselves quite in that way that the papers...
CHARLIE ROSE: What's been the most satisfying of all the films you've made other than this one?
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, this was a very, very satisfying experience.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah, good actors, and -- and a nice story.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, it was very, very hard work and very challenging and completely
new. The truth is, I'm very lucky. At my age, I get asked to do things I've
never done before.
CHARLIE ROSE: That's great.
STEPHEN FREARS: It doesn't come better than that.
CHARLIE ROSE: No, it doesn't. But what -- of all the things you've done, what gave you the greatest satisfaction? Because it -- it may have been a smaller film rather than a larger one?
STEPHEN FREARS: It was a little Irish film called "Snapper" that I loved.
CHARLIE ROSE: Because?
STEPHEN FREARS: Because it takes you to -- you just learn things about life that you didn't know. When I went to Dublin, I had no idea people lived like that.
CHARLIE ROSE: Where is the English stage today?
JUDI DENCH: I never know the answer to this question.
CHARLIE ROSE: You get it asked all the time, don't you -- no problem this year.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Because they say that if you go to London today, you can see a lot of sequels and stuff like that.
JUDI DENCH: Yes. I mean, you see remakes of things ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Exactly.
JUDI DENCH: ... don't you, everywhere and lots of musicals.
CHARLIE ROSE: Right. Right.
JUDI DENCH: To get a good ... (CROSSTALK)
JUDI DENCH: ... straight -- yes, past due.
CHARLIE ROSE: You know, why are we laughing about that?
JUDI DENCH: (INAUDIBLE) again, yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: There is some story ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Oh, I'm just being silly.
JUDI DENCH: But yes, I'm afraid you do it. To get a new play, you know, is quite rare. I saw "Heroes" the other day, which is lovely. Three -- three chaps...
CHARLIE ROSE: Who is that?
JUDI DENCH: That is ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Isn't that Tom Stoppard?
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, right, exactly, Tom ...
JUDI DENCH: Tom Stoppard. Tom Stoppard. I loved it. I just loved it.
CHARLIE ROSE: Do you go to the theater much? Do you have time to go to the theater?
JUDI DENCH: I don't go much. But I enjoy it. I always go, being very optimistic about it.
CHARLIE ROSE: If you -- this is -- if you had a chance to choose between a film you really wanted to do with a director you really wanted to do, and a play that you hadn't done before that, say, written by someone like Tom and maybe directed by Trevor Nunn, or whatever, would you be more inclined to want to be on stage?
JUDI DENCH: That's impossible. I wouldn't know.
CHARLIE ROSE: You wouldn't know.
JUDI DENCH: I expect I'd want to be -- I'd be more -- I don't know whichever one was the most different from the last thing I had done, I expect.
CHARLIE ROSE: Most different.
JUDI DENCH: You know -- it is -- I think I've said this before.
CHARLIE ROSE: On this program?
JUDI DENCH: Probably on this program. But after you've done something of some kind of type, very -- I'm sure it happens to Stephen, very often after that, you -- something rather similar to it will be found.
CHARLIE ROSE: Exactly.
JUDI DENCH: And they'll say -- this is a very good part for you, because it reminds of the part -- you know, the part before has just reminded ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, right.
JUDI DENCH: ... them of this. And that of course is the last thing you want. What I want to do now, is, you know, somebody who walks the tightrope and hangs upside down and sings a song -- well, maybe not sing a song, that might be too light, possibly.
CHARLIE ROSE: So, so the surprise here is nudity.
JUDI DENCH: So, the surprise here is nudity. In the film.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: And -- and -- and light heartedness ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: ... frivolousness.
CHARLIE ROSE: Now, was the nudity an issue at all in any way in making
this film?
STEPHEN FREARS: No.
CHARLIE ROSE: No. Everybody is happy to say let's make a fun film.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes. The girls were very sensible and grown up and well chosen and dazzling.
CHARLIE ROSE: What are you today looking for in terms of where you are in your life and I mean -- you continue to work hard. You continue to love to work.
JUDI DENCH: I do.
CHARLIE ROSE: What, I mean, what's ...
JUDI DENCH: That's it. That's the petrol. I don't want to turn the ignition off.
CHARLIE ROSE: You don't.
JUDI DENCH: In case the wheels fall off.
CHARLIE ROSE: Well, you dont because you don't -- you wonder what will happen if you stop doing it? You might, you know -- it's the whole notion ...
JUDI DENCH: Right, what would you do?
CHARLIE ROSE: I would ...
JUDI DENCH: ... just grind to a halt.
CHARLIE ROSE: I know, someone said to me the other day what, you know ...
JUDI DENCH: Are you going to retire? Is that what they said to you?
CHARLIE ROSE: No, they didn't say that. But they did say, you know, how long do you want to do this? I said...
JUDI DENCH: We're lucky, because we're the ones who like doing it.
CHARLIE ROSE: I love doing it. Why would I not want to do this?
STEPHEN FREARS: You're lucky that we're able to work at our age.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, exactly.
STEPHEN FREARS: Or certainly in Britain, but ...
JUDI DENCH: Certainly at my age.
STEPHEN FREARS: Suddenly a lot of people don't work beyond a certain age. So ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: ... to be working at this age is ...
JUDI DENCH: But retirement is a rather fashionable word.
CHARLIE ROSE: I know.
JUDI DENCH: When are you going to retire?
CHARLIE ROSE: But what -- what else brings you, I mean you -- you want to continue doing this because you love doing it, and because if you didn't do it, you don't know what the hell would happen to you. As you said, the wheels might fall off.
JUDI DENCH: I'd rot.
CHARLIE ROSE: You'd rot? Is that what you said? Rot?
JUDI DENCH: (INAUDIBLE) rot, yes, all those things.
CHARLIE ROSE: Did you?
JUDI DENCH: Yes, I mean.
CHARLIE ROSE: But you have -- what are --
what are your passions beyond the stage, beyond the craft, beyond acting?
JUDI DENCH: Painting. Which I enjoy doing very much.
CHARLIE ROSE: Are you -- are you reasonably good?
JUDI DENCH: No.
CHARLIE ROSE: How long have you been doing this? For a long time?
JUDI DENCH: Oh, that's what I trained as, as a theater designer ...
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, that's right.
JUDI DENCH: So I do that a bit.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: And ...
CHARLIE ROSE: But have you gotten better and better and better and better and better and better?
JUDI DENCH: No, I expect worse, because I'm rather rusty I think now.
CHARLIE ROSE: But that would be great.
JUDI DENCH: But I still like it. You know, the fear that people say about painters is, oh, I can't paint, oh, I can't paint, I wouldn't. And I'm always saying to people, but with friends of mine, I've said, you know, just get -- get some paints and get a pad and just look on it as a diary. That's all it is. You're going -- you're not going to have to exhibit these paintings.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: It's just something if you are already...
CHARLIE ROSE: I couldn't agree more. I don't know why more people -- I mean, in a city like this, this magnificent city I love so much, it is -- you just -- there is a place where you can just go to a class too and just get a little bit of instruction ...
JUDI DENCH: Yes. Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: ... as to what -- how you paint. Not ...
JUDI DENCH: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: ... on how to be creative, but just how to put the paint brush into ...
JUDI DENCH: Paint on paper. (CROSSTALK)
STEPHEN FREARS: I'm married to a painter.
CHARLIE ROSE: And?
STEPHEN FREARS: When I first met her, I remember saying, oh, no, no, no, I don't -- I can t draw anything. And it became apparent it was just fear.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: She said -- well, just -- she made me draw a teapot. Well, just look at it. Look at it. Look. Look at the (INAUDIBLE), that big that is. How much, you know, how much space that occupies. It was just fear. Terror.
CHARLIE ROSE: And do you -- did you continue?
STEPHEN FREARS: No.
CHARLIE ROSE: You didn't enjoy it? It just -- it did nothing for you?
STEPHEN FREARS: It was frightening. It was very, very frightening.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, but she probably wouldn't want to make a movie either.
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, she's too sensible for that.
JUDI DENCH: She's a very, very good painter.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: She paints wonderfully. But it is fear. It's all being put off at school.
STEPHEN FREARS: (INAUDIBLE).
JUDI DENCH: Michael was put off it. They said that's no good to him.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: What happened to Michael?
JUDI DENCH: Well, he -- he painted at school, and he had an art master who said, that's no good. You have no talent.
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, yeah.
JUDI DENCH: After you're told that...
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, yes.
JUDI DENCH: ... how do you manage?
CHARLIE ROSE: That is the worst thing. I mean, I just -- I mean -- I swing back and forth between the people saying, you know, you've got to be realistic with the people, and on the other hand don't you dare squelch that ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: ... desire, that creativity ...
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: ... that whatever. Let them find out.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: And sometimes .
JUDI DENCH: Leave a little bit of encouragement.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yeah, encouragement, yeah.
JUDI DENCH: Say something, well, the color is wonderful. And work at that a bit.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. (CROSSTALK)
CHARLIE ROSE: What I like about it, just could you do more of this?
JUDI DENCH: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Choose this color. What's your next movie? Do you know?
STEPHEN FREARS: Oh, I daren't tell you.
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, you won't tell me?
STEPHEN FREARS: I dare not tell you.
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, please, tell me.
STEPHEN FREARS: I've shot a film about the queen.
CHARLIE ROSE: A documentary?
STEPHEN FREARS: No, a story.
CHARLIE ROSE: Well .
STEPHEN FREARS: The story about .
CHARLIE ROSE: Well, she's played a queen.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, but that queen was dead. I mean, about our queen.
CHARLIE ROSE: Oh, I expect -- Q.E. II.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, I expect to get my head chopped off any day now. I'm completely ashamed of myself.
CHARLIE ROSE: What's it about?
STEPHEN FREARS: It's about the week after Diana was killed.
CHARLIE ROSE: And it's a movie? And it's - it s .
STEPHEN FREARS: It's (INAUDIBLE) movies, yes. It's about .
CHARLIE ROSE: Is it for television or for feature release?
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, it's about the richest woman in England. So, you couldn't do it for television because you have to - you needed more money.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes. And it's the 10 days after Diana .
STEPHEN FREARS: No, the week after .
CHARLIE ROSE: . and the intrigue within the palace and all that?
STEPHEN FREARS: No, no, no. Not - not so much the intrigue.
CHARLIE ROSE: Dealing with the ...
STEPHEN FREARS: The effect of Diana on the royal family was so enormous.
And it sort of all erupted after - after she was killed. After her death. It
s not about, you know, whether the royal family murdered her or anything
ridiculous like that .
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: It s simply about the reactions.
CHARLIE ROSE: The conspiracy theories by some .
STEPHEN FREARS: No, it's nothing to do with that.
CHARLIE ROSE: ...people living in France.
STEPHEN FREARS: It's just about the reaction of - of -- it was such an enormous event, and it became such a huge public event, and about the -- it's really about the royal family having to be sort of modernized.
CHARLIE ROSE: And - and her fame and appeal transcended royalty.
STEPHEN FREARS: Well, she was like a movie star.
CHARLIE ROSE: Exactly. (CROSSTALK)
STEPHEN FREARS: She - she touched people so that millions of people came out on the streets in Britain. Well, this had never happened before. And the royal family were absolutely sort of paralyzed by this.
CHARLIE ROSE: My impression is that they've sort of now accepted Camilla.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: They've just made a -- la grand tour here.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes. Yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Isn't that your impression?
JUDI DENCH: Definitely.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes. And Charles is now happily married, which is, you know, great -- good for him. Anyway, I shall end up in the Tower, so.
CHARLIE ROSE: It's over for you, isn't it?
STEPHEN FREARS: I was thinking it would be nice to get in the Tower. You get three meals.
JUDI DENCH: Now. TEPHEN FREARS: Three meals a day. Tourists will move past and look at you.
CHARLIE ROSE: And the view is good.
STEPHEN FREARS: Absolutely. A river view.
CHARLIE ROSE: And what are you doing next, my dear?
JUDI DENCH: I'm going to do "James Bond" next. And then I'm going to do "Hay Fever" in the theater in London.
CHARLIE ROSE: The West Side?
JUDI DENCH: Yes. Yes. The Theatre Royal, Hey Market. Peter Hall directing it.
CHARLIE ROSE: Not a bad combination, I would say, wouldn't you, Stephen?
STEPHEN FREARS: Fantastic.
CHARLIE ROSE: That's right.
JUDI DENCH: It will be good fun, and then "The Merry Wives of Windsor" at Stratford, a musical version.
CHARLIE ROSE: This is the best time in your life. I mean .
JUDI DENCH: Terrific.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, it is - it really - from some creative.
JUDI DENCH: Very lucky.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, well, very good is what it is. As you can see, I'm sort of mad about her. Kind of, isn't it?
STEPHEN FREARS: She's great.
CHARLIE ROSE: She is great. And - and so, do you know what the new James Bond is going to be about?
JUDI DENCH: It's "Casino .
STEPHEN FREARS: "Casino Royale."
CHARLIE ROSE: It's "Casino Royale," yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: It was a really good book.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: It's a terrific book.
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
JUDI DENCH: And it was - it was -- wasn't it made with David Niven?
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes, I think it was.
STEPHEN FREARS: It was rather sort of ridiculous.
CHARLIE ROSE: It was. Wasn't it Peter Sellers - who.
STEPHEN FREARS: They were all in it, and scores of people directed it.
JUDI DENCH: That was quite a lot - that was long before Sean.
STEPHEN FREARS: Yes, but it wasn't sort of done like Bond films normally are done.
JUDI DENCH: No.
STEPHEN FREARS: It just happened to be owned by somebody else .
CHARLIE ROSE: Yes.
STEPHEN FREARS: . but it was, I remember reading the book, and it was - it was a terrific book. First one.
CHARLIE ROSE: You know what this is for me? This - this is sort of what I most love about this show. You and I decide -- you're coming here to talk about this movie, which we can do. You see somebody who you admired and - but he didn 't know he was going to be here, and you can come in and you can just have a real conversation about what's going on, whether it's .
STEPHEN FREARS: Can you now apologize . (CROSSTALK)
STEPHEN FREARS: Can you now apologize to the people I was supposed to be having dinner with?
CHARLIE ROSE: On behalf of the great director, I apologize. It was not
his fault. I made him do it. Made him do it. I threatened him with horrible
repercussions if he didn't come.
STEPHEN FREARS: I'm a teenage director. I'm underage.
CHARLIE ROSE: But you can visit him in the Tower, where he will be imprisoned by her majesty.
STEPHEN FREARS: Oh, yes.
CHARLIE ROSE: Thank you very much.
JUDI DENCH: Thank you.
CHARLIE ROSE: A pleasure again.
JUDI DENCH: Thank you.