Dame Judi Dench Reveals Age-Related Macular Degeneration Limits Acting and Reading
The 91-year-old Oscar winner discusses the challenges of her eye condition, diagnosed in 2012, which impacts her ability to perform on stage, in films, and read.
Dame Judi Dench, the acclaimed 91-year-old actress, has revealed that age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has progressed to a point where she can no longer act on stage or in films, nor can she read books.
Diagnosed with AMD in 2012, the Oscar-winning star has been contending with the condition for over a decade. AMD affects the macula, the part of the retina responsible for sharp, central vision, making it difficult to see clearly and recognize faces.
While Dench had film cameos in 2022 and appeared on television this year, she told the BBC's Today programme that her condition now prevents her from pursuing her craft. "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," she stated.
Daily life has also become more challenging, with Dench admitting to struggling to recognize people and occasionally approaching the wrong individual. She has adapted by relying on audio resources, finding the radio particularly important. For script learning, she has utilized AI-powered technology, including RayBan Meta glasses that convert text to speech, a suggestion from the vision loss charity Sight for Surrey, of which she is a patron.
Dench's recent activities have included writing and promoting her memoir, "Is It Too Late to Make a Run for It," which chronicles her career. She is also scheduled to return to the stage for a series of evenings with her friend and writing partner, Brendan O'Hea, to discuss the book.
During promotions, Dench also shared her views on the proliferation of trigger warnings in entertainment, expressing that they have gone too far and risk "mollycoddling" audiences. She argued that while warnings for strobe lighting, gunshots, and age limits are appropriate, excessive warnings detract from the theatrical experience. "Isn't that what makes theatre and films so thrilling?" she questioned, advocating for art to provoke, stimulate, and disturb.
In her memoir, Dench reflected on the 2019 film "Cats," in which she played Old Deuteronomy. She described the movie as a "complete catastrophe" and admitted to not having seen the final cut, noting the critical reception was hostile.
