‘It’s a whole other ball game’: Dame Judi Dench’s sad health update
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Acting icon Dame Judi Dench has said she’s no longer able to perform in a play or a film due to her health.
The 91-year-old revealed her degenerative eye condition has worsened to the point where she can’t see well enough to appear on stage and certain colours are no longer visible.
Acting icon Dame Judi Dench has said she’s no longer able to do a play or a film due to her health. Getty
“I can’t be on stage. I can’t do a play any more. I can’t do a film any more. I can’t read any more,” Dench told BBC Radio 4’s Today.
“So you’ve got to adjust to all that, and make allowances for it. And just get on and don’t think about it too much.”
The Bond star was diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration in 2012, which has affected her vision and makes it difficult to make out faces.
Dench told host Emma Barnett she was unable to see her face properly, even though it was right in front of her, during their chat.
Judi Dench (right) told host Emma Barnett (left) she was unable to see her face properly, even though it was right in front of her. Instagram/@emmabarnett
Where it becomes most problematic, Dench said somewhat jokingly, is when she hugs somebody only to realise they weren’t who she thought they were.
The Belfast actress revealed colours disappeared for her some time ago, especially the colour blue, but she’s able to remember what it looked like.
“They said this summer was absolutely sensational with bluebells [but] I couldn’t see one,” she said.
“I know what my trees look like, and so part of it is in my memory and part of it is what I can hopefully just about make out.”
The Belfast actress also revealed that colours disappeared for her some time ago, but she’s able to remember what they looked like, especially when it comes to trees. Jeff Spicer/Getty Images
Sitting alongside Dench during the interview, to promote her new book Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It? was co-author and fellow actor Brendan O’Hea.
He marvelled at how his friend has adapted her creative passions, as her eyesight changed her abilities, such as swapping painting for paper art.
“You’re not letting it defeat you,” O’Hea told Dench.
“I know it gets you down, but you don’t allow it to defeat you.”
Sitting alongside Dench during the interview, to promote her new book Is It Too Late to Make a Run For It?, was co-author and fellow actor Brendan O’Hea. Youtube/BBCNews
During the wide-ranging interview, the Oscar-winning actress spoke about her 30-year marriage to her late husband, actor Michael Williams, and her love for Shakespeare.
When asked how she’s found the ageing process, the actress labelled it “rubbish”.
“There’s nothing to say for it at all,” Dench said of ageing.
“Nothing at all. Don’t think about it too much and just keep on trying to do the rollerskates or whatever, do anything.
“And if you can’t see as well, which I can’t, it’s a whole other ball game.”
