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The iconic actress Judi Dench has spoken candidly about the impact of aging on her eyesight and memory, stating she frequently finds it hard to remember immediate plans – but can easily recall extensive passages of the Bard's work.

"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I swear to you," she stated to a magazine.

Her assistants verified that this kind of help are sometimes required. She further mentioned that her age-related macular degeneration currently causes faces to appear "in a fog" even when up close.

A Condition That 'Crushes'

"It's a crusher," Dench noted, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I long to see Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she continued, "but I can at least hear the questions."

Dench, who turns 91 this week, is fronting a new documentary exploring her longstanding relationship with the works of Shakespeare. Audiences will also see her in conversation with Kenneth Branagh in another programme set for broadcast over the Christmas holidays.

Regarding Friends and Acquittals

Dench also mentioned staying in contact with actor Kevin Spacey, who was found not guilty of sexual assault charges in 2023. "Kevin has been exonerated," she stated, "and I hear from Kevin, we text."

In recent months, Dench disclosed she needs full-time assistance in public to avoid tripping due to her failing eyesight. She was first diagnosed with the eye condition in 2012, a degenerative issue that is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK.

Coping with New Realities

Dench has attributed the condition with her effective stepping back from acting. "I can't see on a film set any more," she said in 2023, adding: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it."

"It's challenging if I have any length of a part. I have not discovered a way. Since I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."

Dench's most recent screen credit was a brief part in the 2022 holiday film Spirited; earlier that year she had a larger role in Allelujah. The same year also earned her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.

A Continued Public Presence

Dench still appears often at events, nevertheless, including at charity events like one last month with Ian McKellen. This past spring, she was sculpted live for charity. She noted she could not see the finished sculpture, but would feel it "if permitted."