Dame Judi Dench shares update on her deteriorating health
Dame Judi Dench has revealed she can no longer leave her house by herself due to her worsening eyesight.
The legendary British actress, 90, opened up about her deteriorating health in a candid chat on the Fearless podcast with Trinny Woodall, admitting she must be accompanied by someone everywhere she goes in case she falls over or bangs into something.
Judi said, “Somebody will always be with me; I have to now because I can’t see and I will walk into something or fall over.”
Aside from her declining sight, which is caused by age-related macular degeneration, Judi says she prefers to be supported by others and is “not very good at being on my own”.
She told the podcast host, “I’m always nervous before going to something. I have no idea why...I’m not good at being on my own at all, nor would I be now."
“And fortunately, I don’t have to now because I pretend to have no eyesight,” Judi joked.
In 2024, Dench hinted that her acting career could be over as her worsening eyesight makes it "impossible" to learn lines.
When asked about her career at the Chelsea Flower Show in May, the Oscar winner replied: "No, no, I can't even see!"
Judi, who was diagnosed with macular degeneration in 2012, said she has tried to work “as much as she can” but finds any part “difficult” to play.
She told Express.co.uk, "I have so many friends who will teach me the script. But I have a photographic memory, so I have to know where it is on the page, and that's quite a difficult thing."
"That's what makes it really impossible so far [not knowing exactly where the text is]. But I'll find a way."
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