'Can't even see': Judi Dench hints at possible retirement
Oscar-winning English actor Judi Dench, known for her illustrious six-decade career in film and theater, has hinted at a possible retirement. During her recent appearance at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, the 89-year-old revealed that she currently has no upcoming movie projects in the pipeline. "No, no. I can't even see!" said the celebrated actor who last appeared on screen in the 2022 movie Spirited in a cameo. The film was led by Will Ferrell and Ryan Reynolds.
Dench suffers from macular degeneration
Since at least 2012, Dench suffers from macular degeneration, a condition greatly affecting her eyesight. Per the National Eye Institute, "Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is an eye disease that can blur your central vision. It happens when aging causes damage to the macula — the part of the eye that controls sharp, straight-ahead vision." "AMD doesn't cause complete blindness, but losing your central vision can make it harder to see faces, read, drive, or do close-up work."
Earlier, Dench shared how she acted despite the problem
In a past TV interview, however, Dench expressed her unwillingness to retire due to her vision impairment. "I don't want to retire. I'm not doing much at the moment because I can't see. It's bad," she stated. However, she added that her photographic memory has been a significant aid in performing, saying: "I have a photographic memory so a person saying to me, 'This is your line...' I can do that."
'You find a way': Dench on coping with AMD
In 2021, Dench shared how she is coping with AMD. "You find a way of just getting about and getting over the things that you find very difficult." "I've had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again. So, I have to learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won't notice too much if all the lines are completely hopeless!"
A look back at the stalwart's illustrious acting career
Dench's acting career began with her stage debut back in 1957, quickly establishing her as one of the world's most respected classical actors. She won an Oscar for her brief eight-minute role as Queen Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love. Additionally, she gained a new generation of fans through movies such as Pride & Prejudice and GoldenEye. She also starred with Indian actor Ali Fazal in Victoria & Abdul.
