'I can't even see!' Judi Dench hints at potential end to acting career amid eyesight struggles

LONDON, UK: Renowned actress Judi Dench, known for her remarkable performances on stage and screen, has hinted at a potential halt to her acting career due to her ongoing battle with macular degeneration, a condition affecting her eyesight, as reported by People.

During a recent encounter with a reporter at the Chelsea Flower Show in London, Dench, 89, candidly shared her current situation, stating, "No, no. I can't even see!" 

Judi Dench's ongoing struggle with macular degeneration and Its impact on her career

Since revealing her diagnosis in 2012, macular degeneration, the primary cause of vision impairment in people over 50, has remained a persistent worry for Dench.

Despite her unwavering resolve, the condition's progressive effects have increasingly hindered her work capabilities, casting uncertainty on her involvement in future projects.

Dench has discussed the possibility of retiring after an illustrious career spanning over 65 years as a stage and screen actress, having made her debut in 1957.

Her latest film appearance was in the 2022 Christmas comedy 'Spirited.' During a 2021 event for the London-based Vision Foundation, she explained how she had been coping with her worsening eyesight when it came to reading scripts.

"You find a way of just getting about and getting over the things that you find very difficult," Dench admitted. "I've had to find another way of learning lines and things, which is having great friends of mine repeat them to me over and over and over again."

She added, "So I have to learn through repetition, and I just hope that people won't notice too much if all the lines are completely hopeless!"

During a February 2023 appearance on 'The Graham Norton Show,' Dench mentioned that her photographic memory posed challenges in memorizing lines as her vision declined.

“I need to find a machine that not only teaches me my lines but also tells me where they appear on the page," the Philomena star said. "I used to find it very easy to learn lines and remember them. I could do the whole of Twelfth Night right now."

Dench and Brendan O'Hea wrote 'Shakespeare: The Man Who Pays The Rent' last month, despite not having any movies in the works.

“Shakespeare is my passion,” she told People at the time. “It used to be nine pence to go to the Old Vic and sit in the gallery, so we used to go and see Richard Burton and John Neville. This was before the Beatles, so the people used to just go mad. I never thought for one single second I would be part of that as my first job.”

Internet reacts to Judi Dench's announcement of no new movies amid eyesight loss

Dame Judi Dench's recent revelation about her diminishing eyesight and the potential end of her acting career has sparked a wave of reactions online, with fans expressing both support and admiration for the iconic actress.

Following Dench's candid admission that she doesn't have any upcoming projects due to her eyesight issues, social media users quickly shared their thoughts and feelings.

One commenter suggested, "I’m sure there is a way of having the script read to her for vision-impaired actors, and for a director to use her despite vision loss." This highlights the hope that technological or procedural adaptations could keep Dench on screen.

Another fan showed immense gratitude for Dench's body of work, saying, "Thank you for all the fabulous movies you made. I will watch them hundreds of times because they’re that good!!!!"

Expressions of admiration were plentiful, with one user simply stating, "Damn, she’s a great actress." Another comment read, "Oh Judi... still have lots of love for you and Joan Plowright."

Some fans reflected on her long struggle with vision issues, with one remarking, "She’s been having vision issues for many years. I'm surprised she didn't retire way back then. Hope she can keep it up. Love you, Dame Judi."

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.