Although Judi Dench has not watched the entire film yet, the actor revealed her displeasure with how she looked in the movie Cats based on the stills she has seen.
In an interview with Vogue, Judi Dench decried the appearance of her character Old Deuteronomy as a "battered, mangy old cat" instead of the more sleek and attractive cat she was expecting. "A great big orange bruiser," Dench said. "What's that about?" Specifically, Dench called out her costume, sardonically adding, "The cloak I was made to wear! Like five foxes f**king on my back.”
Old Deuteronomy was a character in both the musical Cats and the T.S. Elliott book of poems it was based on, Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats. The old and beloved leader of the Jellicle tribe of cats was originally portrayed on stage in London by Brian Blessed and on Broadway by Ken Page.
At least Dench seems to appreciate the ironic reception the film has gotten. In response to the interviewer mentioning that the movie has found an audience among younger viewers, Dench remarked, “I had a very nice email… no, not an email...a text, from Ben Whishaw [the actor], who just doted on it. So sweet. So lovely.”
Upon its release, Cats became an infamous box office flop, costing Universal up to $70 million. Due to her performance as Old Deuteronomy, Dench won a 2020 Razzie Award nomination for Worst Supporting Actress. Rather than being offended, Dench remarked, “Oh, am I? That would be good! As far as I know, that’s a first!”
Directed by Tom Hooper, Cats stars James Corden, Judi Dench, Jason Derulo, Idris Elba, Jennifer Hudson, Ian McKellen, Taylor Swift, Rebel Wilson and Francesca Hayward.