Dame Judi Dench Suggests That Her Version Of Old Deuteronomy In “Cats” Is A “Trans Deutoronomy”

The worst thing Dame Judi Dench ever did was go to bat for Harvey Weinstein and Kevin Spacey–and then Cats came out. This thing is getting ripped to shreds and has instantly become a must-see visual mess classic. While Cats is getting panned by critics and the fans are hate-watching it like a high schooler would Two Girls One Cup, Judi is shedding a possible light in the darkness of this litter-stain of a film–Perhaps her character has a transgender element to it? Also perhaps she’s joking? Mostly the second.

Out says that Judi is making some transgender suggestions. She hasn’t gone full ScarJo but the day is young.

In Cats Judi plays Old Deuteronomy, which is a character traditionally performed by a male actor. Judi was apparently super excited when she got the chance to do the Cats movie (hindsight is 20/20, girl) because she was supposed to play Grizabella and Jennyanydots in a stage production in 1981. But she snapped her achilles tendon and had to drop out of the West End show. Who knew it was your body proactively warning you to stay away from all productions of Cats?

Well, Judi has an interesting thought on this take of Old Deuteronomy, who “judges the annual Jellicle Ball, during which different cats perform for the chance to ascend to the Heaviside Layer and be reborn into a new life.” I am definitely having edibles and watching this movie at some point. She said to Out at a press junket for the film:

“Its glorious to have been included in it, I must say. [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… I kind of call it ‘trans Deuteronomy,’ is the part for me, you know… It was lovely, lovely to be led about and be an aged cat, very nice indeed.”

An old, trans, differently-abled cat. Judi Dench is hitting those representation marks. Wow. Her mind. Now Scarlett Johansson is mad. Like, but she can’t be a tree?

I need someone to explain to me who thought this was a good idea. This movie has Jason Derulo wondering where his cat penis is and Dame Judi Dench talking about “transgender cats.” The good news for Judi Dench is that she’s about to get her first Razzie nomination for Worst Performance As A Transgender Cat, which she’s a shoo-in to win.

Pic: YouTube