The Esteemed Actress Reveals Memory Struggles Yet Holds Onto Shakespeare Lines.
The iconic actress Judi Dench has opened up about the effects of aging on her eyesight and memory, revealing she often struggles to remember immediate plans – but can easily recall extensive passages of Shakespearean text.
"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she told a magazine.
Her team verified that this kind of help are sometimes required. Dench added that her age-related macular degeneration currently causes faces to appear "blurred" even up close.
A Condition That 'Crushes'
"It's devastating," she remarked, explaining that it prevents her from watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie presenting 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 set for broadcast over the festive period.
Regarding Friends and Acquittals
Dench also mentioned remaining in touch with fellow actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of assault allegations in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," she stated, "and we are in contact, we text."
Earlier this year, Dench disclosed she now requires constant help in public to avoid tripping due to her vision problems. She first revealed the eye condition in 2012, a progressive issue that is the leading cause of sight 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 explained, adding: "Reading is also impossible. But you just deal with it."
"It's challenging if I have any length of a part. I haven't yet found a way. Since I have so many friends who will teach me the script."
Dench's most recent screen credit was a brief part in the 2022 Christmas movie Spirited; prior to that she had a more substantial part in Allelujah. The same year also earned her her eighth Oscar nomination for Belfast.
A Continued Public Presence
She continues to appear frequently in public, however, including at charity events like one last month alongside Ian McKellen. In May, she participated in a live sculpture for charity. Dench said she would not be able to see the final artwork, but would feel it "if permitted."
