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The legendary performer Judi Dench has opened up about the effects of growing older on her vision and memory, stating she often struggles to remember upcoming appointments – yet can effortlessly recite long sections of the Bard's work.

"I can't remember what I'm doing tomorrow, I promise you," she stated to the Radio Times.

Her team confirmed that this kind of help are sometimes necessary. She further mentioned that her degenerative eye condition now means faces to appear "in a fog" even when up close.

A Condition That 'Crushes'

"It's devastating," she remarked, adding that it prevents her from watching television. "I long to see Clive Myrie hosting Mastermind," she said, "but I can at least hear the questions."

Dench, who turns 91 on Tuesday, is fronting a new documentary about her longstanding relationship with Shakespeare's works. Audiences will also see her being interviewed by Kenneth Branagh in another programme airing over the Christmas holidays.

On Friends and Exoneration

Dench also mentioned remaining in touch with actor Kevin Spacey, who was acquitted of sexual assault charges in 2023. "Kevin was cleared," she stated, "and we are in contact, we text."

In recent months, Dench disclosed she now requires constant help in public to avoid falling over due to her vision problems. She first revealed age-related macular degeneration in 2012, a progressive disease that is the leading cause of vision loss in the UK.

Coping with New Realities

Dench has attributed the condition with her effective stepping back from acting. "I can't see on a film set any more," she explained, adding: "And I can't see to read. But you just deal with it."

"It's challenging if I have a substantial role. I have not discovered a way. Since I have so many friends who will help me learn the script."

Her last film appearance was a brief part in the 2022 holiday film Spirited; prior to that she had a larger role in Allelujah. That year also earned her her eighth Academy Award nod for Belfast.

A Continued Public Presence

Dench still appears frequently in public, nevertheless, including at fundraisers including a recent one last month alongside Ian McKellen. This past spring, she was sculpted live for charity. Dench said she could not see the finished sculpture, but would touch it "if permitted."