Dame Judi Dench has revealed she can no longer read, perform on stage or appear in films because of her eye condition. The 91-year-old Oscar winner described ageing as "rubbish", saying there is "nothing to say for it".
Dench was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in 2012. The condition has progressively affected her eyesight, forcing her to step back from work and give up some of the activities she loves.
What Judi Dench said about her condition
In an interview with BBC Radio 4's Today programme, she told presenter Emma Barnett: "I can't be on stage, I can't do a play anymore. I can't do a film anymore. I can't read anymore. So you've got to adjust to all that and make allowances for it and just get on and don't think about it too much."
Her close friend Brendan O'Hea, who co-wrote her new autobiography, also spoke on the show. He described how Dench has found new ways to express herself despite her sight loss.
Finding new ways to express herself
O'Hea said: "You say you can no longer paint anymore, you used to love painting watercolours, but now you've discovered a new game of paper, where you... [tear the paper]. That's what's wonderful about it, you're not defeated by it."
He added: "You go, 'Okay', and you challenge everyone to make a sheep or a unicorn or something and have a competition. So instead of being able to see something and painting a wonderful landscape with watercolours, you're able to tear paper animals. You're finding another way of expressing yourself. You're not letting it defeat you. I know it gets you down, but you don't allow it to defeat you."
Loss of colour and memory
O'Hea also recalled a conversation two years ago when he suggested visiting bluebells, and Dench said she could no longer see the colour blue. Asked if blue is "gone" for her, Dench said: "They said this summer was absolutely sensational with bluebells - I couldn't see one. I know what my trees look like, so part of it is in my memory and part of it is what I can hopefully just about make out."
Dench also said she plants trees in memory of those she has lost. She confessed that being unable to recognise faces sometimes leads to awkward encounters, as she may approach the wrong people to "give them an almost hug" before realising her mistake.
When asked if ageing is any good, Dench replied: "Ageing? Rubbish. There's nothing to say for it at all. Nothing at all. Don't think about it too much."
