The iconic performer Judi Dench has opened up about the impact of aging on her vision and memory, revealing she frequently finds it hard to recall immediate plans – but can easily recall extensive passages of Shakespearean text.
"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she told the Radio Times.
Her team verified that this kind of help are sometimes necessary. Dench added that her degenerative eye condition now means faces to appear "blurred" even up close.
A Condition That 'Crushes'
"It's devastating," Dench noted, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie presenting Mastermind," she continued, "however I can still hear the questions."
Dench, who turns 91 on Tuesday, is leading a new documentary exploring her longstanding relationship with Shakespeare's works. Audiences will also see her being interviewed by Kenneth Branagh in another programme airing over the festive period.
Regarding Friends and Acquittals
Dench also mentioned staying in contact with actor Kevin Spacey, who was found not guilty of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin has been exonerated," Dench affirmed, "and I hear from Kevin, we text."
In recent months, Dench disclosed she needs constant help in public to avoid falling over due to her failing eyesight. She first revealed age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a degenerative issue that is the primary reason of vision loss in the UK.
Adapting to Change
Dench has attributed the condition with her effective stepping back from film work. "I can no longer see properly on set," she explained, adding: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it."
"It's difficult if I have any length of a part. I have not discovered a way. Since I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."
Her last screen credit was a brief part in the 2022 Christmas movie Spirited; prior to that she had a larger role in Allelujah. The same year also brought her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.
A Continued Public Presence
Dench still appears frequently in public, nevertheless, including at charity events like one last month alongside Ian McKellen. In May, she participated in a live sculpture for charity. Dench said she could not see the finished sculpture, but would touch it "if permitted."
