Legendary actress Judi Dench, now 90, has opened up about her continuing struggle with age-related vision impairment, explaining how that has affected her daily and professional life. The award-winning star said her failing eyesight means she can no longer leave her home without someone accompanying her.
Dench has suffered from macular degeneration, a disease that destroys the retina and results in a gradual loss of central vision, since 2012. Her peripheral vision is still all right but the condition makes it difficult to see objects clearly, or to get around without her white cane. To cope, she has had to depend on friends and family members to keep her safe and able to move about.
Nonetheless, Dench’s phenomenal memory remains a huge part of her secret formula for continuing to work in the industry she loves so much. She has devised tricks for memorizing lines, like repeating them while friends listen (they don’t even have to react) and laying them out so that they can see them visually.
Her desire to continue acting even with limited sight reveals her love for the craft. Although her output has slowed in recent years, Dench has stayed busy making movies. She gave a standout performance in the British drama Allelujah in 2022, and appeared in the holiday comedy Spirited, with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrell. Her role in the 2021 film Belfast earned her another Academy Award nomination, and her place among the most brilliant actors of her generation was secured.
And despite her health providing new challenges, Dench’s incredible ability to adapt and simply keep on going continues to enthrall fans and colleagues alike, further cementing her place as a genuine legend of the stage and screen.
Peace Nero is a writer and blogger who loves to explore different topics of self-development. She shares her personal experiences in order to help people discover their true purpose in life.