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The iconic performer Judi Dench has spoken candidly about the impact of aging on her vision and memory, stating she often struggles to recall upcoming appointments – yet can easily recall extensive passages of the Bard's work.

"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she stated to a magazine.

Her team confirmed that this kind of help are sometimes required. Dench added that her degenerative eye condition currently causes faces to appear "blurred" even up close.

A Condition That 'Crushes'

"It's a crusher," she remarked, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I miss seeing Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she continued, "however I can at least hear the questions."

Dench, who turns 91 this week, is leading 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 festive period.

On Friends and Exoneration

Dench also mentioned staying in contact with actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of sexual assault charges in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," Dench affirmed, "and I hear from Kevin, we text."

Earlier this year, Dench disclosed she now requires constant help in public for fear of tripping due to her vision problems. She was first diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a degenerative disease that is the leading cause of sight loss in the UK.

Coping with New Realities

She has credited the condition with her de facto retirement from film work. "I can no longer see properly on set," she explained, adding: "Reading is also impossible. But you just cope."

"It's challenging if I have a substantial role. I have not discovered a way. Because I have many companions who will teach me the script."

Dench's most recent screen credit was a small role 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.

Remaining in the Public Eye

Dench still appears frequently in public, however, including at charity events including a recent one last month alongside Ian McKellen. This past spring, she participated in a live sculpture to raise funds. Dench said she could not see the final artwork, but would feel it "if they let me."