Judi Dench discusses her blindness and admits she can’t see at the theatre: “Hopeless”
Judi Dench has revealed she is no longer able to watch TV or theatre due to her blindness.
In recent years, the British acting royalty has spoken openly about her struggle with sight that has continued to worsen, and again addressed the issue at a rare public appearance.
While speaking at the Theatre Royal in Bury St Edmunds, Dench told those in the audience (per The Standard), “I can’t see any more.” She also shared, “When I go to the theatre, I can’t see. Hopeless.”
However, Dench did confirm that she remained up to date with the exploits of her friend and fellow actor Celia Imrie, who was a contestant on the recent series of The Celebrity Traitors, lightly joking, “Somebody told me what was happening. I want to hear the dirt that went on.”
Dench, now 90, first shared in 2012 that she had age-related macular degeneration (AMD), which affects more than 700,000 people in the United Kingdom alone. It is the most significant cause of sight loss.
On a podcast in January, Dench provided an insight into how she copes with public events, such as red carpets, noting, “Somebody will always be with me. I have to now because I can’t see and I will walk into something or fall over.”
However, the Oscar-winner then explained why it has been somewhat of a relief to step back from public events, sharing, “I’m always nervous before going to something. I have no idea why. I’m not good at that at all. Not at all. Nor would I be now. And fortunately, I don’t have to be now because I pretend to have no eyesight.”
Dench last appeared in two movies in 2022 but has not returned to acting in the last three years despite not being officially retired from the business.
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