Tea With the Dames (2018)

Roger Michell: Self, interviewer

Quotes 

• Roger Michell : What would your advice be to your young self?

  Judi Dench : Oh, christ...

  Joan Plowright : I would say get in touch with yoga or mindfulness at quite an early age. And learn about the brain and what influence it has on the body. All those things that I've come to be interested in later on in life and could have done with doing earlier.

  Eileen Atkins : Well, I think Joan kind of leads to a version of mine, which I would say is not to be so very bad tempered and confrontational. And listen more.

  Maggie Smith : Honest to God, I don't know, because most likely I wouldn't be listening . But I would say: When in doubt, don't.

  Joan Plowright : That's good. It should be a motto, that. When in doubt, don't.

  Judi Dench : I would say: Try not to be so susceptible to falling in love.

  Eileen Atkins : No - be more susceptible.

• Roger Michell : Reviews?

  Maggie Smith : You don't read them.

  Judi Dench : You certainly don't read them. Somebody will always tell you, won't they?

  Maggie Smith : Oh, yeah. Particularly if it's dreadful.

  Eileen Atkins : Caryl Brahms years and years ago...

  Judi Dench : Oh, I was just going to say Caryl Brahms...

  Eileen Atkins : -- came up to me at a party when I was about early 20s and said, "I'm so sorry I had to be so cruel to you." And I hadn't known and I didn't know what she was talking about. Of course, that was the nicest way I could have answered her. I mean, it was a good thrust back. I said, "I'm sorry, I don't k now what you're talking about." But it was genuine. I didn't know what she was talking about. And after that I thought, oh, you must check up on what's said about you.

  Judi Dench : Well, I think that's not wise.