Judi Dench reveals her Cats character Old Deutoronomy is transgender
While her Cats adaptation flopped in its opening weekend at the box office, Judi Dench made a surprising revelation about her character Old Deutoronomy.
The 85 year old actress spoke with Out about the character, who, in all of the stage productions is played by a male actor.
She said that it was, ‘totally unexpected’ to play Old Deutoronomy, adding, ‘I kind of call it “trans Deuteronomy,” is the part for me, you know.
Trans: While her Cats adaptation flopped in its opening weekend at the box office, Judi Dench made a surprising revelation about her character Old Deutoronomy
Even Out admitted they, ‘can’t tell if she’s serious about’ her claim that Old Deutoronomy is a transgender character, and, ‘it seems like Dench’s comments seem more joking, but if she’s serious — visibility matters!’
Still, Dench added, ‘it was lovely, lovely to be led about and be an aged cat, very nice indeed.’
The role brings her Cats journey full-circle, since she was originally set to star in the original 1981 West End production in London.
Transgender: Even Out admitted they, ‘can’t tell if she’s serious about’ her claim that Old Deutoronomy is a transgender character, and, ‘it seems like Dench’s comments seem more joking, but if she’s serious — visibility matters!’
Dench was originally cast in the dual role of Grizabella the Glamour Cat and Jennyanydots the Old Gumbie Cat.
However she never took the stage, since she snapped her Achilles tendon, with Elaine Page playing Grizabella and Myra Sands playing Jennyanydots.
Brian Blessed played Old Deutoronomy in the original 1981 West End production, with Dench adding it was ‘glorious to have been included in it.’
Cats role: Dench was originally cast in the dual role of Grizabella the Glamour Cat and Jennyanydots the Old Gumbie Cat
‘[It was] nerve wracking, because all I can hear is Brian Blessed all the time in the production that I wasn’t able to be in,’ she added.
The London production ran for 21 years (8,949 performances), while the Broadway production ran for 18 years (7,485 performances).
As of now, it’s the fourth-longest running Broadway show and the sixth longest running West End show as of 2019.
Production: ‘[It was] nerve wracking, because all I can hear is Brian Blessed all the time in the production that I wasn’t able to be in,’ she added
Despite its success on the stage, Cats was not a big hit on the big screen, opening with just $6.6 million from 3,380 theaters for a $1,958 per-screen average.
The film was budgeted at $95 million, and it was not a hit with critics either, with just a 17% rating among critics on Rotten Tomatoes.
The film made headlines when Universal revealed they will be releasing a new cut of the film with improved visual effects on Monday.
No hit: Despite its success on the stage, Cats was not a big hit on the big screen, opening with just $6.6 million from 3,380 theaters for a $1,958 per-screen average
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