Dame Judi Dench has expressed strong reservations about the 2019 film adaptation of the musical Cats, describing the experience as one she "can't bear" and revealing she has not watched the completed movie. In her forthcoming memoir, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, Dench reflects on the widely criticized project, acknowledging the disappointment surrounding its reception.

Dench, who portrayed the character Old Deuteronomy in the film, noted that Andrew Lloyd Webber had waited many years for the adaptation to be made, making the final outcome particularly regrettable. She described the film as a waste of goodwill and talent, while also showing empathy toward the critical response. "I understand the critics who were rather hostile to the film," she wrote. However, she clarified that she never saw the final cut and therefore refrained from offering a full evaluation, emphasizing that no one involved intended to deliver a poor performance or produce a bad film.

Reflecting on her own involvement, Dench said she felt uneasy from the outset and struggled to connect with her role. Nonetheless, she found some personal enjoyment in discovering she could still perform certain physical aspects of the character, such as lifting her leg in the air.

Dench also downplayed any notion of blame among the cast and crew, stating there were "no villains in the making of Cats." She suggested that despite the film’s lack of success, those involved could take away valuable lessons from the experience.