Judi Dench Shares Her Struggle with Vision Loss and Difficulty Recognizing People

Judi Dench recently provided an update regarding her vision decline, revealing that she can no longer recognize individuals.

During a joint ITV News interview with her former Macbeth co-star Ian McKellen on November 26, Dench, who is 90, discussed how macular degeneration has affected her eyesight. “I can make out your [McKellen’s] outline, and I know you very well … but I can’t recognize anyone these days,” Dench expressed, turning from the actor, 86, to the interviewer. “I can’t see the television, and I can’t see to read.”

Dench disclosed in 2012 that she had been diagnosed with age-related macular degeneration, a condition that the Cleveland Clinic describes as “primarily an age-related retinal condition” that impacts central vision, offering “treatments, but [no] cure.”

The Notes on a Scandal star, who reunited with McKellen 50 years after performing alongside him in the Royal Shakespeare Company’s U.K. stage production of Macbeth, mentioned that she is now unable to attend theater shows due to her diminishing sight.

McKellen lightened the mood during the interview by playfully asking his former co-star, “But do you approach total strangers and say, ‘Lovely to see you again?’” Dench chuckled before replying, “Yes, sometimes.”

Dench explained in January that her vision impairment has interfered with her ability to participate in public events. While appearing on an episode of Trinny Woodall’s “Fearless” podcast, she shared, “I’m always anxious before attending something,” adding that someone needs to “be with me” during red carpet events.

She humorously concluded, “I’m not good at that at all. Not at all. And fortunately, I don’t have to be now,” noting that she has “no eyesight” and “might trip.”

Dench made her diagnosis public via a statement to Reuters a decade ago. “In response to the many articles in the media regarding my eye condition – macular degeneration – I want this to be understood without exaggeration,” the 2012 statement read. “This condition is something that thousands of people across the globe are facing. I’ve learned to cope with it and adapt – and it will not lead to blindness.”

She further elaborated on the condition in a 2021 interview with The Guardian, explaining that she has adjusted to her declining vision. “You find ways to navigate and overcome challenges that you encounter,” Dench remarked. “I’ve had to discover different methods of memorizing lines, such as having dear friends repeat them to me repeatedly. So, I learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won’t notice if my lines are totally off.”

The acclaimed English actress is celebrated for her performances both on screen and stage, winning an Oscar for her supporting role as Queen Elizabeth I in Shakespeare in Love, wherein Gwyneth Paltrow also received an Academy Award for her performance in the 1998 film.

Dench, who has been in a relationship with conservationist David Mills since 2010, was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1970 and became a Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1988.