The Esteemed Actress Shares Memory Struggles But Retains The Bard's Lines.
The legendary actress Judi Dench has spoken candidly about the impact of growing older on her eyesight and memory, revealing she frequently finds it hard to recall immediate plans – but can effortlessly recite extensive passages of Shakespearean text.
"I have no memory of what I'm doing tomorrow, I swear to you," she told the Radio Times.
Her assistants verified that this kind of help are at times required. Dench added that her degenerative eye condition currently causes faces to appear "blurred" even when up close.
A Condition That 'Crushes'
"It's devastating," Dench noted, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she continued, "but I can still hear the questions."
Dench, who turns 91 this week, is fronting a new documentary about her longstanding relationship with Shakespeare's works. Audiences will also see her in conversation with Kenneth Branagh in a separate show airing over the Christmas holidays.
On Friends and Exoneration
Dench also mentioned remaining in touch with fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin has been exonerated," Dench affirmed, "and we are in contact, we text."
Earlier this year, Dench disclosed she now requires constant help in public for fear of tripping due to her failing eyesight. She was first diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a degenerative disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in the UK.
Coping with New Realities
She has credited the condition with her effective stepping back from acting. "I can't see on a film set any more," she said in 2023, and continued: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it."
"It's difficult if I have a substantial role. I have not discovered a way. Since I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."
Her last screen credit was a small role in the 2022 Christmas movie Spirited; earlier that year she had a larger role in Allelujah. The same year also brought her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.
Remaining in the Public Eye
She continues to appear frequently in public, nevertheless, including at fundraisers like one last month alongside Ian McKellen. In May, she was sculpted live for charity. She noted she would not be able to see the final artwork, but would touch it "if permitted."
