At 90 years old, Judi Dench is no longer able to recognize people due to an eye condition called macular degeneration. She was diagnosed with the disease in 2012.
+ “Joey”: Find out where to watch all the lost episodes of the “Friends” spin-off
The degeneration causes blurred vision and is common among people over 50. In an interview with ITV News, Judi Dench said she can no longer recognize anyone.
“I can’t see anymore. I can’t watch television. I can’t read,” said the Oscar-winning actress.
Actor Ian McKellen was sitting beside her during the interview. She commented that she could only recognize her former *Macbeth* co-star because she knew him so well “in his Macbeth scarf.”
“But do you go up to complete strangers and say, ‘Nice to see you again?’” McKellen asked, trying to lighten the mood. “Yes, sometimes,” Judi Dench replied, laughing.
In January 2025, the actress said she could no longer go out alone and needed someone with her at all times. “I need that now because I can’t see, and I might bump into something or fall.”
“I always get nervous before going somewhere. I have no idea why… I’m not good at being alone at all, and now I couldn’t be. And fortunately, I don’t have to, because I pretend I have no vision at all,” she added, laughing.
In 2023, Judi Dench had already spoken about the impact of the disease on her acting career.
“It’s become impossible, and because I have a photographic memory, I need to find a device that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page,” she said on *The Graham Norton Show*.
Photos: Wikimedia Commons. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
