Dame Judi Dench, the iconic British actress who celebrated her 90th birthday last month, recently opened up about the challenges she faces due to her deteriorating eyesight. In a conversation with Trinny Woodall on the Fearless podcast, the Belfast star revealed that her vision loss has made it impossible for her to attend events on her own.
“I’ve never been good at attending events alone," she admitted. "Not at all. And fortunately, I don’t have to anymore.”
While joking that she has “no eyesight,” Dench explained, “Someone always has to be with me now. I can’t see, and I’ll either walk into something or fall over.”
Dench has been open about her struggle with macular degeneration, a condition that causes permanent central vision loss. She first spoke publicly about her diagnosis in 2012, emphasizing that she didn’t want the issue to be sensationalized.
“This condition is something that thousands and thousands of people all over the world are having to contend with,” Dench said at the time. “It’s something I’ve learned to cope with and adapt to—and it will not lead to blindness.”
Over the years, macular degeneration has significantly impacted Dench’s ability to perform. Known for her photographic memory, she revealed how difficult it has become to memorize lines.
“It has become impossible,” Dench said during an appearance on The Graham Norton Show. “I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them. I could do the whole of Twelfth Night right now. But now, I need a machine that not only teaches me my lines but tells me where they are on the page.”
Despite these challenges, Dench remains resilient, finding new ways to adapt. She now relies on friends to repeatedly go over lines with her until she commits them to memory.
“You find a way to get about and get over the things that you find very difficult,” she said. “I’ve had to adjust, but I keep going.”
Dench recalled a humorous moment from her time performing in a West End production of The Winter’s Tale alongside Kenneth Branagh. During one scene, Branagh gently pointed out, “Judi, if you were to say that speech about eight feet to your right, you’d be saying it to me and not the [proscenium].”
She added with a laugh, “I rely on people to guide me.”
While her vision may have changed, Dench’s passion for acting and her determination to persevere remain undiminished. “You just find ways to adapt,” she said, proving that her indomitable spirit continues to inspire fans and colleagues alike.
Source: Entertainment Weekly
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