Dame Judi Dench has shared a sad update about her deteriorating health. The 91-year-old was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012. According to the NHS, it is a common condition that affects the middle part of your vision. It usually first affects people in their 50s.
The website states that it does not cause total blindness, but it can make things like reading and recognising faces difficult. Without treatment, your vision may get worse. This can happen gradually over several years, before it can then get worse quickly over a few weeks or months.
Health update
Sharing an update on her health, Judi said: "It has affected me, yes. I can't see the television any more and I can't see bright light, it is not good. It is just a boring thing. My ma had it too," she added to Yours Magazine.
The actress can also no longer walk unaided along a red carpet, admitting she could easily trip over "a flat piece of grass".
Career determination
The condition means Judi can no longer read scripts. However, she refuses to retire and remains determined to continue working for as long as possible.
Discussing her career moving forward, Judi admitted she still fears being out of work. "I hardly dare say that it has not happened to me. I don't want to tempt fate," she added.
While her health struggles have forced her to take a step back from major acting roles, she has previously revealed that she can still remember some lines thanks to her "photographic memory".
Recent roles and projects
She previously told Hello! Magazine: "If you're an actress, you can act that you can see. I've had to act all my life, so I can act that I can see."
"You end up cutting a lot of people dead, then you go up to complete strangers, give them the most enormous hug and say, 'I'm so sorry I haven't seen you for so long'."
In recent years, the actress's roles have become more limited. In 2022, she made a brief cameo in the musical film Spirited.
This year, she starred in a 13-minute cinematic celebration honouring the late British comedy star Barry Cryer. She also lent her voice to a talking, high-tech smart refrigerator in the family fantasy film The Magic Faraway Tree.
Judi has also co-written her latest book, Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It?, described as a personal and humorous memoir reflecting on her life over more than 90 years. The book explores her childhood in York, her marriage and the highlights of her illustrious career.
As well as her writing and acting ventures, she hosts Tea with Judi Dench on Sky Arts, which has included Sir Ian McKellen as a guest.
