Legendary actress Dame Judi Dench has spoken candidly about the impact of her ongoing battle with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a degenerative eye condition that has been affecting her vision since 2012.
In an emotional interview, Dench revealed that the condition, which causes gradual vision loss, has significantly worsened over the years. “Bad. Bad enough. Bad enough in that you’re quite fuzzy. You’re just a tad fuzzy,” the 89-year-old actress admitted when asked about the severity of her sight loss.
When Theroux inquired whether her condition might affect her acting career, Dench confessed that it has made her current work difficult. “I’m not doing anything much at the moment because I can’t see,” she said, expressing her reluctance to retire despite the challenges.
Dench, known for her iconic role in Skyfall, shared how she has adapted to learning her lines without being able to read them in the traditional way. “I’ve got to teach myself a new way of learning,” she explained, adding that she relies on memorizing the location of the text on the page. “I’ll teach myself a way. I know I will, as long as I don’t trip overdoing it.”
The actress also discussed the broader impact of her condition on her day-to-day life, revealing that she can no longer read the newspaper, complete crosswords, or enjoy books. “I can’t read a book,” Dench said, emphasizing the challenges of living with AMD.
In addition to her professional hurdles, Dench shared the personal toll of her deteriorating eyesight, explaining that by 2017, her vision had declined to the point where she could no longer drive. “But I just know I’ll kill somebody if I get behind the wheel of a car now,” she said.
Dench also revealed that her mother had suffered from a similar condition, and expressed concern that her daughter, Finty, may also face the same fate due to the genetic nature of AMD.
When asked about the possibility of losing her sight entirely, Dench remained cautiously optimistic. “I don’t want to say,” she said. “I can see enough… You adapt to it. So I ignore it altogether.”
Dench’s openness about her struggle highlights the resilience and determination that have characterized her decades-long career, as she continues to face the challenges of vision loss with courage and adaptability.
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