'Can't see anymore': Judi Dench opens up about eyesight loss
What's the story
Academy Award-winning actor Judi Dench (90) recently opened up about her deteriorating eyesight due to age-related macular degeneration (AMD). "No, you don't [see me on camera], because I can't see anymore," she told an ITV News reporter during a recent interview with longtime friend Ian McKellen. She added, "I can see your outline, and I know you so well in your Macbeth scarf." "But I can't recognize anybody now. I can't see the television. I can't see to read."
Career impact
Dench's struggles with AMD and its impact on her career
Dench, known for her roles in Shakespeare in Love and Daniel Craig's James Bond series, has been candid about her battle with AMD. The condition affects the central part of the retina, leading to distortion or loss of central vision. "It's difficult for me if I have any length of a part," she earlier said, adding that she hasn't found a way to cope yet despite having friends who help her learn scripts. Dench was diagnosed with AMD in 2012.
Recent projects
Dench's recent work and ongoing initiatives
Despite her eyesight issues, Dench continues to work in the industry. Her last role was a cameo in the 2022 Apple TV+ Christmas musical comedy Spirited. She also appeared in a recent holiday-themed advertisement in the UK. Along with McKellen, she is currently supporting a campaign to modernize the William Shakespeare syllabus in English schools by using rehearsals as teaching tools.