Dame Judi Dench reveals acting has become 'impossible' due to difficult health condition

Mary Sworn
Dame Judi Dench opens up about difficult health condition that makes acting ‘impossible’
© Mike Marsland / Getty Images
Dame Judi Dench opens up about difficult health condition that makes acting ‘impossible’
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The great Dame Judi Dench has been suffering from a health condition for the last 10 years. The actress has opened up about her struggle.

Dame Judi Dench has appeared in some popular franchises, including James Bond and has won a multitude of awards from Tony awards to two Golden Globes. The iconic actress has opened up about her struggles with her health condition.

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Dame Judi Dench can barely read anymore

Dame Judi Dench revealed she suffers from age-related macular degeneration for over 10 years. The actress appeared on the Graham Norton Show on February 17, 2023, during the show, she talked about her struggles.

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Judi Dench, 88, revealed that she ‘can’t see’ which has made learning her lines for parts ‘impossible.’ The actress then said what makes it harder is that she has a ‘photographic memory’ so not being able to see where the lines are on the paper means she struggles to memorise her lines.

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Dame Judi Dench won’t give up

Despite her age-related degenerative eye condition, the actress hasn’t given up on acting. She hopes to find a machine that will read her lines and tell her where they are on the page. She said to Graham Norton:

[It’s] not so easy now, but I’ll find a way.
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She also mentions how it used to be so easy for her to memorise her lines, and she told Hugh Jackman that she could easily recite 'the whole of Twelfth Night right now' for them.

In a separate interview, Dame Judi Dench admitted that she doesn’t want to quit acting despite not being able to read or write:

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I don't want to retire. I'm not doing much at the moment because I can't see. It's bad.

Sources used:

Woman & Home: ‘Dame Judi Dench shares heartbreaking health update with fans: ‘acting has become impossible’

Mirror: ‘Dame Judi Dench refuses to quit acting despite struggling to read due to rare disorder’

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