Judi Dench speaks her mind about young actors

If there was anyone you would want to guide you as a young actor on the stage, it would definitely be Dame Judi Dench.

But she’s given some tough love this week, slamming actors for their lack of curiosity and knowledge about the past.

Speaking at the unveiling of a plaque at the former home of the late British actor Sir John Gieldgud, Dame Judi had a lot of say about the actors of today.

“What is so shocking now is that young actors don’t want to find out about the legacy that we left,” she said, according to The Guardian.

“It is not laziness, it is just non-curiosity.
“I think it is terribly important to know that whole history of theatre we have, why you’re in it, what people did before, the lives of actors.”

There are many older actors who might agree with Dame Judi, and probably some who would say that issue of not being curious about history is a generation wide issue today.

But it’s not just their lack of curiosity about the past that has Dame Judi critical of young actors.

She revealed her frustration at not being able to hear actors on stage and on TV at times.

“Often I want to shout out, ‘Will you say that again because I can’t hear!'” she said, The Guardian reports

“It is an apathy, laziness. If you’re not going to be heard, then stay at home and do it in your living room. 

“It doesn’t require shouting, it requires learning about it and learning where your voice comes from, where your diaphragm is and how to use it.”

No doubt many of us can relate to that frustration too!

What do you think of Dame Judi’s words? Do you agree with what she had to say?