Shakespeare: our Roman Empire?

"How much Shakespeare is constantly in your head every day?" Dame Judi Dench gets asked on the Graham Norton Show (Oct. 23). Unsurprisingly, the acclaimed and multi-award winning English actress replies that we all quote Shakespeare several times a day, often without even knowing it!

As she goes on about the universality of experiences related in Shakespeare's plays and the sheer number of Shakespearean words, phrases and sayings that have permeated common English language, she is suddenly asked to recite her favorite Shakespeare sonnet -- on the spot! Watch how brilliantly and movingly Dench rises up to the challenge, leaving the show's host, guests and audience mesmerized:

An inspiring example !