The Esteemed Actress Reveals Memory Struggles But Retains The Bard's Verses.
The legendary performer Judi Dench has opened up about the impact of aging on her vision and recall, revealing she often struggles to remember upcoming appointments – yet can easily recall long sections of Shakespearean text.
"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she told the Radio Times.
Her team confirmed that such reminders are sometimes required. Dench added that her degenerative eye condition currently causes faces to appear "blurred" even up close.
A 'Crusher' of a Condition
"It's a crusher," she remarked, adding that it means she can no longer watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she said, "but I can at least hear the questions."
The actress, celebrating 91 this week, is fronting a new documentary about her deep connection with the works of Shakespeare. She will also be seen being interviewed by Kenneth Branagh in another programme set for broadcast over the Christmas holidays.
Regarding Friends and Acquittals
Dench also mentioned staying in contact with fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was found not guilty of sexual assault charges in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," she stated, "and I hear from Kevin, we text."
Earlier this year, Dench said she now requires constant help in public for fear of falling over due to her vision problems. She was first diagnosed with the eye condition in 2012, a degenerative disease that is the primary reason of sight loss in the UK.
Coping with New Realities
Dench has attributed the condition with her de facto retirement from acting. "I can't see on a film set any more," she explained, 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. Because I have so many friends who will teach me the script."
Her last film appearance was a brief part in the 2022 holiday film Spirited; earlier that year she had a more substantial part in Allelujah. The same year also earned her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.
A Continued Public Presence
Dench still appears frequently in public, nevertheless, including at fundraisers like one last month with Ian McKellen. In May, she was sculpted live to raise funds. She noted she could not see the final artwork, but would touch it "if permitted."
