Judi Dench Shares Devastating Update on Her Ongoing Sight Problems

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Beloved actress Judi Dench has shared some sad news with her fans. Known as one of the most talented actors of all time, Dench is famous for roles like M in the James Bond movies, as well as films like A Room with a View and her many Shakespearean performances – she famously played Lady Macbeth with Ian McKellen. She hasn’t been on screen much lately, with her last appearance being a short cameo as herself in the 2023 comedy Spirited.

Judi Dench recently shared with ITV News that she’s been unable to work on stage or in films due to vision loss from macular degeneration. She discussed her condition alongside her former co-star, Sir Ian McKellen, who she worked with on Macbeth.

She explained she wasn’t visible on camera because she’d lost her sight. She told McKellen she could just make out his shape, recognizing him by the scarf he was wearing – she remembered him from his performance in Macbeth. However, she said she couldn’t recognize anyone else, and was no longer able to see the television or read.

Judi Dench’s History with Macular Degeneration


20th Century Studios

I was really saddened to hear about Judi Dench’s struggles with macular degeneration. She first talked about it back in 2012, explaining she needed help reading scripts, but even then, she kept working! It was amazing seeing her in films like Skyfall, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and Murder on the Orient Express despite everything. By 2024, it had gotten much worse, and sadly, she had to mostly stop acting because she needed assistance to even leave her house. Her final role, which I thought was lovely, was a holiday commercial for ShelterBox International.

Judi Dench has received eight Academy Award nominations, winning once for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in the 1998 film Shakespeare in Love. She’s also been nominated for her performances in Mrs. Brown, Chocolat, Iris, Miss Henderson Presents, Notes on a Scandal, and Philomena. Most recently, she received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress for her work in Belfast at the 94th Academy Awards. In 1988, Dench was appointed a Dame, a title recognizing her contributions to the arts.

Even at 90, Judi Dench isn’t stopping her work – she’s teamed up with Ian McKellen to support a new Shakespeare teaching program. The program aims to make Shakespeare’s plays easier for students to understand, hoping to inspire the next generation of talented Shakespearean actors and performers. Dench herself famously played Ophelia in Hamlet when she was just 23 in 1957, launching a remarkable career that has delighted audiences ever since.

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2025-12-01 02:51