The iconic performer Judi Dench has spoken candidly about the effects of growing older on her eyesight and recall, stating she often struggles to remember upcoming appointments – but can effortlessly recite long sections of Shakespearean text.
"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I swear to you," she stated to a magazine.
Her assistants confirmed that this kind of help are sometimes necessary. She further mentioned that her degenerative eye condition now means faces to appear "in a fog" even when up close.
A Condition That 'Crushes'
"It's a crusher," she remarked, adding that it means she can no longer watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie presenting Mastermind," she continued, "but I can at least hear the questions."
Dench, who turns 91 this week, is fronting a new documentary exploring her deep connection with the works of Shakespeare. She will also be seen in conversation with Kenneth Branagh in a separate show airing over the Christmas holidays.
On Friends and Exoneration
Dench also mentioned staying in contact with actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," she stated, "and we are in contact, we text."
In recent months, Dench said she needs full-time assistance in public for fear of falling over due to her vision problems. She was first diagnosed with the eye condition in 2012, a degenerative issue that is the primary reason of vision loss in the UK.
Coping with New Realities
Dench has attributed the condition with her effective stepping back from acting. "I can no longer see properly on set," she said in 2023, adding: "Reading is also impossible. But you just cope."
"It's challenging if I have a substantial role. I have not discovered a way. Since I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."
Her last film appearance was a small role in the 2022 holiday film Spirited; earlier that year she had a more substantial part in Allelujah. The same year also earned her her eighth Academy Award nod for Belfast.
Remaining in the Public Eye
Dench still appears often at events, however, including at fundraisers including a recent one last month with Ian McKellen. This past spring, she participated in a live sculpture to raise funds. Dench said she could not see the finished sculpture, but would touch it "if they let me."
