Dame Judi Dench, the actress from James Bond and Notes on a Scandal, has defended herself after being misunderstood as snobbish as a result of her health issues getting worse.
Juliet, Queen Victoria, and the British Secret Service chief have all come to her mind, but regrettably, Dame Judi Dench’s illustrious acting career is about to end. She revealed in a joint interview with her long-time friend Sir Ian McKellen that because of her advancing macular degeneration, she finds it difficult to recognize faces at 90.
The central vision gradually deteriorates as a result of age-related macular degeneration, which typically manifests in people over 50. A fuzzy or warped patch is frequently the first indication, which fades over time until visibility is completely lost.
Dame Judi first raised the issue in 2012 when she revealed that her vision was deteriorating and that she needed other people to read her scripts.
She particularly dislikes naming the condition and confiding in Sir Ian, “I can’t see anyone.” I have that, I suppose. Nobody is unfamiliar to me. I can’t read or watch television.
She quipped that others perceive her as snobbish because she doesn’t greet them, when, in reality, she simply cannot make them out. She explained to ITV News: “People think, ‘Oh, get her. She’s got very grand.’ It’s because I can’t see!”
When Dame Judi giggled before confessing that this occurs “occasionally” when Sir Ian inquired whether she ever approaches “total strangers” and says, “lovely to see you again.”
She remarked to podcaster Trinny Woodall, “I have to have someone with me now because I can’t see and I’ll walk into something and fall over,” and she revealing this poignantly.
The actress continued, “It’s terrible to be so dependent on people,” calling the loss of her independence as “ghastly.”
When asked about any upcoming theater projects, the actress, who has won an Oscar, a Tony, two Golden Globes, four BAFTA television awards, six BAFTA film prizes, and seven Oliviers, responded vehemently and simply said “no.”
Additionally, she has foreclosed on any potential film roles. She heartbreakingly responded, “No, no, I can’t even see,” when questioned in 2024 about potential roles.
Nevertheless, opportunities still arise. This Christmas, Dame Judi appears in a television advert for disaster relief charity ShelterBox, where she’s spotted passing on a red lacy thong as a gift to her mate and fellow thespian Dame Imelda Staunton.
