Actress Dame Judi Dench has revealed that she’s been forced to give up acting as well as driving and fears that she will ‘lose the plot’ as her eyesight continues to worsen
Dame Judi Dench has shared the reality of her worsening eyesight. The legendary actress, 91, admits she can no longer see her television and now has to rely on her team in order to help her with everyday activities.
13 years ago, the stage and screen star was diagnosed with Age-related Macular Degeneration, which can lead to permanent and rapid central vision loss. This is the primary cause of vision loss in people over the age of 50. But now, the James Bond icon admits that even her close-up vision is “a fog”.
Dame Judi now suffers from both of her eyes being “wet”, the worst part of her condition, but there is nothing which can be done to prevent the condition from worsening, or any solution when it comes to treating the condition.
“It’s a crusher,” she said in a new interview. The actress shared that she’s no longer able to drive, has been forced to give up embroidering cushions, reading and watching television. But there is something that Dame Judi admits she misses on a regular basis.
Speaking to Radio Times, she said: “Well, I miss seeing Clive Myrie doing Mastermind, but I can hear the questions.” She went on to clarify that she has the television on so she can listen to it, rather than watch. Elsewhere, Dame Judi admitted: “Oh yes, and I do now,” when asked whether she fears losing the plot.
And while the actress is able to remember countless Shakespeare tales, she revealed that she has a bad short-term memory. “But I can’t remember what I’m doing tomorrow, I swear to you,” she explained.
Dame Judi’s admission comes after she told her close friend, Sir Ian McKellen, that she “can’t recognise anybody”. She told the Lord of the Rings legend: “I can’t see anyone. I’ve got, you know, that thing. I can’t recognise anybody. I can’t see the television, I can’t see to read.”
She later explained 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 Sir Ian enquired whether she ever approaches “total strangers” and says “lovely to see you again”, Dame Judi giggled before confessing this happens “sometimes”.
But for Dame Judi, she is now no longer able to go out alone due to her worsening eyesight, explaining to Trinny Woodall that she has to have somebody with her at all times as she can’t see and fears that she will “walk into something and fall over”.
Dame Judi described losing her independence as “ghastly,” explaining: “It’s terrible to be so dependent on people.” She’s also ruled out returning to the stage and taking on any future acting work. When questioned in 2024 about plans for future roles, she heartbreakingly replied: “No, no, I can’t even see!”
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.
She’s also teaming up once again with Sir Ian, her co-star from what many consider the finest ever staging of Shakespeare’s Macbeth half a century ago, to champion a fresh scheme aimed at introducing the Bard’s works to younger audiences.
Source: Mirror
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