British actress Judi Dench criticized the use of trigger warnings before theater and film productions in comments published by The Times and included in an excerpt from her forthcoming memoir, “Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?”
Dench said she supports warnings about strobe lighting and gunshots, along with age restrictions for children. But she argued that broader advisories can become excessive and diminish the audience’s experience of a story. She also questioned how producers could decide which subjects might upset individual viewers.
Dench said she wants theater and film to have the capacity to excite, provoke and unsettle audiences. She used Shakespeare’s “Titus Andronicus” and the mysteries of Agatha Christie as examples of works whose impact, she suggested, could be weakened by extensive advance disclosures.
The actress made similar remarks in a 2024 interview, according to the source report. At that time, she acknowledged that advisories could prepare audiences, while also saying theatergoers might encounter material that shocks them.
Film critic Christian Toto, who hosts the “Hollywood in Toto” podcast, praised Dench’s position in comments to Fox News Digital. He argued that art can challenge audiences and that people may find different subjects upsetting. His remarks reflect his opinion, separate from Dench’s comments.
The report said Fox News Digital contacted Dench’s representative for comment. It did not include a response.
